Research began in 2003 when Professor José Antonio Lorente from Granada University and historian Marcial Castro dug up what they believed to be Christopher Columbus's remains from Seville Cathedral. Spanish scientists have been studying these remains to learn more about Columbus's background, which has been a topic of debate for many years. Historians have often claimed that Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, but DNA analysis has provided strong evidence suggesting otherwise.
Forensic expert Miguel Lorente, in a recent documentary titled *Columbus DNA: The True Origin*, stated, "We have DNA from Christopher Columbus, though it is limited but enough. We also have DNA from his son, Hernando Colón. Both the Y chromosome and the mitochondrial DNA from Hernando show traits that are compatible with Jewish origins."
The researchers believe Columbus may have hidden his Jewish heritage or converted to Catholicism to escape religious persecution in Spain at that time. While they have not determined Columbus's exact birthplace, they think it could be somewhere in Western Europe, with Valencia, Spain, being a likely candidate.
The term "Sephardic" comes from "Sefarad," the Hebrew word for Spain. The DNA results, which Lorente describes as "almost absolutely reliable," rule out many other theories about Columbus's origins, including claims that he may have been born in Poland, Portugal, or Scandinavia.
Columbus is famous for his voyages across the Atlantic, sponsored by the Spanish monarchy, in search of a new route to Asia. Instead, he landed in the Caribbean, sparking a wave of European exploration that eventually led to the colonization of the Americas. However, his journeys were also controversial due to the harsh treatment of indigenous people by his crew, which included violence and enslavement.
Columbus died in 1506 in Valladolid, Spain, and his remains were moved several times before finally being laid to rest in Seville.
- Tags:
- International
0 Comments:
Leave a Reply