Posted on 12/17/2006 11:08:36 AM PST by blam
Solved at last: the burning mystery of Joan of Arc
France's favourite saint was martyred by her English foes, who ordered her remains to be cast into the Seine. Now scientists believe they have established the facts surrounding her execution
Alex Duval Smith in Paris
Sunday December 17, 2006
The Observer (UK)
Catholic saint, national icon and one of the world's most famous military leaders, Joan of Arc has been a subject of fascination for the French for almost six centuries. Now academics believe they are close to proving that controversial relics are actually those of the real-life Maid of Orleans. Much is unknown about the life of the warrior. Facts have often been mixed with myth and theory. But what is generally agreed is that Joan's body was burnt three times by the English and ashes from the foot of the pyre were supposedly discovered in 1867, lurking in the Paris loft of an apothecary .
French scientists, who have been studying those ashes, confirmed yesterday that a piece of cloth found among the remains may have been a fragment of Joan of Arc's gown. A new series of DNA tests of bones and tissue found among the ashes is expected to confirm that they belong to a female. These initial discoveries suggest recent controversial claims surrounding the death of Joan of Arc are wrong. One theory, put forward by Ukrainian anthropologist Sergey Gorbenko, suggested Joan was not even burnt at the stake but lived to the age of 57. Another theory is that she was a man.
But the initial discoveries by forensic anthropologist Philippe Charlier, the project's leader, indicate that the standard version of Joan of Arc's death - by being burnt as a witch by the English - appears to be right, although the research...
(Excerpt) Read more at observer.guardian.co.uk ...
They found her laundry mark.
From the old paintings it looks like she was really a hottie.
(sorry. somebody had to say it.)
Are you thinking about Joan van Ark?
Jo Nuvark kindred spirit ping!
I can confirm that I may have a winning ticket in next week's lottery. Confirmation ain't what it used to be.
My first reaction on reading that title was "What mystery? They set her on fire."
Guess that wasn't the reaction the author was hoping for.
Lady Godiva
Of course, finding someone who can trace his or her genealogy so far back on female lines will be difficult...better set CBS to work finding the documentation.
France's new Joan of Arc, Sabine Herold.
Articles like this I call "wish" articles. They are wishing to solve this riddle but, of course they never will. Finding ashes that "May" be female from a time that hundreds if not thousands of women were burned at the stake for being witches, is not a big discovery that proves anything. I suppose those who believe and hope in this dribble are also evolutionists.
How can you confirm something may have...?
Well, there you go then. Science is infallable!
Of course, said Icon found her place in history fighting the British.
Or maybe that's supposed to be the Lady of the Lake, that moistened wench.
'Now, that is interesting. Enlisting a National Icon to arouse patriotic ardor to ally with the British against the Hun.
Of course, said Icon found her place in history fighting the British.'
Well, it's the only military icon france has ever had so they didn't have much of a choice!
Perhaps the subtext of the ad was: 'it took 100 years to find someone french with a backbone last time, can we try harder this time. . . .' :D
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.