Say goodbye to Yorik, and unfortunately, poor Matthias!
Dating back 20 years, a burial site within a medieval Hungarian church has raised the possibility that the skulls discovered may belong to the legendary Matthias Corvinus. He ruled Hungary for over 30 years and was known for his patronage of the arts and sciences.
Emmes Gerber, a Hungarian expert in facial reconstructions, mentioned to a digital news outlet that the skull might belong to a royal in the hypothetical Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Zekesfeherval.
The remains were initially uncovered in 2002, according to reports.
To back her theory, Gerber compared the new skull to that of Janos, the son of Corvinus.
Interestingly, Janos’s remains had previously been discovered in Croatia.
Gerber expressed her belief that these might indeed be the remains of King Matthias Corvinus, who was, according to Britannica, among the first European leaders to embrace the Renaissance.
She indicated to Fox News Digital that there was a significant morphological similarity between the two skulls.
In her efforts, she created a facial reconstruction in plastic from the discovered skull, aiming to bring to life the features of this long-lost figure.
Gerber noted that the skull characteristics were also quite fitting with what is known about Corvinus’s physical attributes.
The evidence, she said, further buttresses the idea of royal lineage, especially considering the estimated age (around 43-48 years old) at the time of death, since Matthias passed at 47, and his height, around 172 cm.
However, Hungarian officials were quick to clarify that these claims concerning King Matthias remain unverified for now. Ongoing studies are being conducted, and a definitive statement will come post-verification.
Corvinus, referred to as Matthias the Just, ruled over Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490, earning his title through various reforms, including the establishment of a standing army and changes to tax laws.
He also founded the Bibliotheca Corviniana, which became a UNESCO site in 2005. This library is known for holding one of Europe’s most significant collections of Renaissance texts.
His passion for the library’s development was profound, aiming to gather all knowledge from both ancient and modern worlds, as noted by UNESCO.
