With the beard, the digitally rendered appearance is remarkably like that recounted in the 1823 poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Archaeologists in Türkiye may have just unearthed the tomb of Saint Nicholas, the real-life inspiration for Santa Claus. While excavating in the annex at the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre, researchers uncovered a limestone sarcophagus buried six feet deep near the spot where he was reportedly once laid to rest.

The discovery could provide fresh insight into the celebrated patron saint that inspired Santa Claus. View on euronews

The sarcophagus belonging to Saint Nicholas, the man behind the legend of Santa Claus, is believed to have been uncovered in Turkey during excavation. See the photos.

Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a limestone sarcophagus at St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, believed to be the tomb of Saint Nicholas, the Christian bishop who inspired the legend of Santa Claus.

The coffin of St. Nicholas — considered the primary inspiration for Santa Claus due to his generosity — may have been discovered at an archeological dig site. A sarcophagus was discovered in a two-story annex of the Church of St.

Old Coffin of ‘Santa Claus’, Hoping to ‘Find an Inscription on the Sarcophagus’ Archaeologists recently discovered a limestone sarcophagus from the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey. Researchers believed it was the burial site of the Greek bishop Saint Nicholas,