It was under Casimirs tenacious rule that the Jagiellonian dynasty became one of the leading royal houses in Europe.
Casimir was interred in the Wawel Cathedrals Holy Cross Chapel, and in 1496, Stoss completed the tomb.
Elizabeth herself was interred in the same tomb beside her husband when she died in 1505.
The sarcophagus of King Casimir IV Jagiellonian.
The sarcophagus is made from mainly red marble from Adnet, near Salzburg.
On top of the sarcophagus is a full length sculpted effigy of Casimir.
Stoss sculpted Casimir as being in agony and dressed him in a clerical cloak only used at coronations.
The sides of the sarcophagus bear the arms of Casimir’s kingdoms and territories.
Inside, they found rotting wooden coffins and the remains of Casimir and Elizabeth.
King Casimir IV Jagiellonian.
The first victim was an architect from Wawel, who died of a stroke in the spring of 1974.
Soon after, the main specialist in the conservation work died.
The cause of death was similar.
Other premature deaths soon followed, and within months ten of the twelve-man team were dead.
Lord Carnarvon was the patron who financed the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
He was the first to die.
Researchers believe that the evidence connecting the deaths to the Aspergillus fungi is tenuous.
The clinical symptoms in those who were affected were often vague and poorly documented.
Despite the lack of evidence, the fungus theory is still propagated by many authors.
The book went on to become a best seller.
