Ancient Civilisations Shroud of Turin
Apr 2, 2026
Nora Creech, Shroud educator and North American leader of Othonia, guides us through the Shroud of Turin’s puzzling past. She examines its medieval reappearances, the 1898 photographic revelation, forensic and scientific studies, and the heated 1988 radiocarbon dating debate. Short, mysterious, and full of historical twists.
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Chambéry Fire Rescue Left Lasting Scars
- A 1532 fire at the Chambéry chapel nearly destroyed the Shroud and rescuers smashed locks to save its silver casket.
- Molten silver left characteristic burn holes and scorch marks that remain visible on the folded linen today.
First Clear Record Appears In 1350s France
- The Shroud first reappears in the historical record in the 1350s when Geoffroy de Charny displays a 4.4m by 1.1m linen bearing a faint full-body image.
- Its documented trail before that is patchy, complicating claims linking it to earlier Edessa or Constantinople traditions.
Secondo Pia's 1898 Photograph Revealed Hidden Detail
- In 1898 amateur photographer Secondo Pia produced the first negative image of the Shroud, revealing a detailed face unseen by the naked eye.
- Pia's negative unnerved observers and later professional photos confirmed the photograph's surprising clarity.