Who was Christopher Columbus really? What were his origins? Spanish scientists have been researching for 22 years to answer these questions by analyzing the remains of this famous historical figure. Discover below the surprising results of this long genetic investigation!
Christopher Columbus, a Spanish Explorer with Jewish Origins
Christopher Columbus is a fascinating historical figure. Regularly portrayed in fiction, such as in front of Ridley Scott's camera (with varying degrees of accuracy), the man who discovered America in 1492 intrigues as much as he fascinates. But who was this explorer really? While tradition has always maintained that he was born in Genes, a new 22-year scientific investigation is overturning these certainties. According to a recent genetic study, led by José Antonio Lorente of the University of Granada, the navigator could actually have been born in Spain. Their findings, announced in a documentary titled Columbus DNA: The True Origin, broadcast this Saturday on the Spanish national channel TVE, Christopher Columbus was actually born in Spain, in a Sephardic Jewish family.
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We have the DNA of Christopher Columbus, very partial, but sufficient. We have the DNA of Hernando Colón, his son. And both in the Y chromosome (male) and in the mitochondrial DNA (transmitted by the mother) of Hernando, we find traits compatible with a Jewish origin.
How did the researchers arrive at this conclusion? By analyzing tiny samples of remains buried in the Seville Cathedral, designated by local authorities as the final resting place of Christopher Columbus, and comparing them to those of known relatives and descendants. Results that will probably be contested by different nations in the future – indeed, several countries such as Portugal, the United Kingdom and Greece have claimed the explorer's origins. Especially since Antonio Alonso, former director of the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences in Spain, told the Guardian that the absence of publication of the data in a scientific journal calls into question the credibility of the results. Conclusions to be taken with a pinch of salt!