A cache of treasures was found in the underground crypt of the Vilnius Cathedral. Funeral crowns and insignia belonging to medieval rulers have been kept there since 1939. 15min writes about this.
No one has heard about the cache from the Vilnius Cathedral in Lithuania since the beginning of World War II in 1939.
Among the treasures found is a crown that belonged to Alexander Jagiellon (or Alexander Jogailaitis), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, who lived from 1461 to 1506..
Other artifacts include a crown, chain, medallion, ring and coffin plaque belonging to Elizabeth of Austria, or Elzbieta Habsburgaite, who lived 1436–1505.
There was also a crown, scepter, orb, three rings, a chain and coffin plaques associated with Barbara Radziwill, or Barbora Radvilaite. She was married to Sigismund II Augustus, or Zygimantas Augustus, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and died in 1551.
“The discovered funeral regalia of the monarchs of Lithuania and Poland are priceless historical treasures, symbols of the long tradition of Lithuanian statehood, signs of Vilnius as the capital and magnificent works of jewelry,” said Archbishop of Vilnius Gintaras Grusas.
According to the statement, the artifacts were placed in the sarcophagi of royals when they were buried, and the crowns were not worn, but were made after death to become part of the funerary tomb.
" This discovery is of particular importance for our statehood, since it shows the location of the Vilnius Cathedral as a necropolis of the elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,” notes Vilnius.
The objects were first discovered in 1931, when the cathedral was cleared after a spring flood, as a result of which a crypt containing the remains of the rulers of Lithuania was discovered.
They were on display until the outbreak of World War II in 1939, when they were hidden. There were several fruitless searches before researchers turned their attention to the crypts in September 2024.
At the end of December, using an endoscopic camera, the artifacts were finally discovered. They were hidden in metal boxes, wrapped in newspapers, dated September 1939.
“In the future they will be examined, restored and presented to the public,” the archdiocese said..
Let us remind you that Focus wrote about five archaeological mysteries that still keep their secrets.