Medieval Crowns and Scepters Discovered Hidden Inside the Walls of a Crypt Beneath a Lithuanian Cathedral

Smithsonian Magazine ^ | January 10, 2025 | Sonja Anderson

[SunkenCiv]

In the crypts of a Lithuanian cathedral, researchers have discovered a trove of royal treasure: crowns, jewelry and a scepter that belonged to several Lithuanian-Polish monarchs from the 15th and 16th centuries. The regalia had been hidden for 85 years—since it was stowed for safekeeping beneath the Vilnius Cathedral in southeastern Lithuania.

Last fall, experts were invited to explore Vilnius Cathedral's subterranean level, where they used an endoscopic camera to look into cracks and holes in the crypt's walls. In December, the researchers opened "a secret hiding place" in the church's crypts, "where the royal regalia was hidden at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939," as Vilnius Archbishop Gintaras Grušas told reporters earlier this week, per the Polish news network TVP World...

The collection includes a crown of Alexander Jagiellon, the king of Poland between 1501 and 1506. It also features crowns, chains, medallions, scepters, orbs and rings belonging to Elisabeth of Austria (also known as Elżbieta Habsburżanka) and Barbara Radziwiłł—the first and second wives of Sigismund II Augustus, who served as king of Poland in the mid-1500s...

Each of these kings acted also as grand dukes of Lithuania, as Poland and Lithuania were united between the 14th and 18th centuries.

[SunkenCiv]

The crowns were buried with kings and queens of Poland, who were also grand dukes and duchesses of Lithuania.

Aiste Karpyte

[SunkenCiv]

[Paal Gulli]

You have to hope that whoever hid them — wherever they might be — has the good fortune to learn they have been found at last, but not by the Nazis. Well done indeed.

[FreeperCell]

Dibs!!

[laplata]

“....... but not by the Nazis”.

Or the Soviets.

[Chode]

quite the modest crown of fire...

[gundog]

I think the Latvians have them beat, hatwise.

[Strict9]

if i found a treasure trove behind a wall i think i would just shut the hell up and go to work the next day in my new crown.

[SunkenCiv]

:^) Yeah, like you could pull off that look. ;^)

[SunkenCiv]

Really, anyone who has the kavorka.

[Red Badger]

I would just shut the hell up and go to work the next day in my new Crown Victoria...................

[Cronos]

I would point out to all, that "Lithuania" during the Jagiello dynasty was really the "Grand Duchy of Lithuania" - a far, far larger entity

And this is what the united Commonwealth looked like

[Chode]

*

[laplata]

Thanks.

[JimRed]

Hidden to prevent Nazi looting, no doubt.