The tomb of Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, has been discovered after archaeologists uncovered the remains of an ancient church in Turkey that was submerged by rising Mediterranean sea levels in the Middle Ages.
The saint, who lived between 270 and 343 AD, is best known for bequeathing money to the poor and specifically the story of how he gave three girls sacks of gold to save them from a life of prostitution.
Another church was built on top of the foundations of the ancient basilica to protect the saint’s tomb, but it wasn’t until recently that archaeologists discovered a mosaic and a stone floor from an earlier sanctuary beneath the one that stands today, leading them to the final resting place of Saint Nicholas. Read the full story here ▶
