The tomb of one of France’s most beloved early poets has been discovered during restoration work at Notre Dame Cathedral following the fire.
Scientists say they are almost certain that the lead coffin found beneath the transept is that of Joachim du Bellay, who died in Paris in 1560 at the age of about 37.
The 2019 fire destroyed the roof and spire of Notre Dame Cathedral.has provided a rare opportunity for archaeologists. Their findings will be displayed at an exhibition in November, just before the cathedral reopens.
Born near Angers in western France around 1522, du Bellay – along with Pierre de Ronsard – was the founder of a group of poets known as La Pleiade, which advocated French rather than Latin as the language of poetry.
It is known from records that du Bellay was buried at Notre-Dame, where he had been a low-ranking clergyman. But his grave has never been found.
Analysis of the skeleton inside the lead coffin revealed that it was the remains of a man about 35 years old, suffering from tuberculosis of the bones in his neck and head, and spending a lot of time sitting in the saddle.
Du Bellay suffered from deafness and severe headaches in later years – symptoms consistent with the researchers’ findings. He is also known to have been a frequent horse rider, notably making the journey from Paris to Rome by horseback.
One remaining question is why the body was placed there and not in the chapel next to where it was recorded as being buried.
One theory is that it was moved to the new location after his name became famous with the publication of a collection of his works a few years after his death.
Du Bellay is still taught in schools in France and some of his poems are widely known.
His most famous work Heureux qui comme Ulysse (Happy are those who love Ulysses) is a work about childhood nostalgia.
