Researchers may have identified the missing tomb of French Renaissance poet Joachim de Bellay in Notre Dame Cathedral. Two tombs were discovered after the 2019 fire, and one of them matches de Bellay's profile based on historical and medical evidence. While signs are promising, some doubts remain.
A centuries-old mystery concerning the burial site of French Renaissance poet Joachim de Bellay in Notre Dame Cathedral could soon be resolved.
De Bellay, who died at the age of 37 in 1560 and was a member of the literary group La Pleiade, was originally buried in the Saint-Crepin chapel of Notre Dame.
However, his remains went missing during renovations in 1758.
Archeologists discovered two tombs at the cathedral's crossing after the 2019 fire and identified one belonging to Antoine de La Porte, a cleric.
The second tomb showed signs of horse-riding-related bone deformation, skull autopsy marks, and a rare illness consistent with de Bellay’s medical history.
Researchers are cautiously optimistic about solving this historical enigma.