A LOST LEADER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 83, 9 April 1934, Page 2

A LOST LEADER

TOMB FOUND IN HUNGARY. The location of the spot under which lies the tomb of the first Hungarian leader, Arpad, is the newest sensation of the Hungarian archaeological world. Many excavators have searched for the tomb without success, but it fell to the luck of Mr. Gatter, a Budapest engineer, to identify its whereabouts last Christmas, says the NewsChronicle. The excavators have been guided by details given by the notary of King Bela 111., the famous “ Auonymous/' who is believed to have written his chronicle in the twelfth century. In this chronicle, named. Gcsta Hungarorum,’ ’ it is stated that Prince Arpad died in 907 and was buried near ! a little brook which flowed in a stone bed to the town of Attila; at this spot a church called Feheregyhaza was built in honour of the Virgin after the conversion to Christianity of the Magyars. After extensive researches Mr. Gatter claims to have proved that Fehcregyhaza—the white church—is no other than the ancient Christian Church built in the reign of King (and Saint) Stephen, near the Roman town of Aquincum in the suburb of O-Buda, which was excavated two years ago. The stone bed of the brook which leads to this church was discovered some years ago by Mr. Paloczi, the director of the Arpad Museum. It is expected that the city authorities will shortly begin excavating for the tomb, and that O-Buda will become a point of national interest. Mr. Gatter states that the excavation of the two fortreses in O-Buda would be highly desirable, as one of these was a fortress used by the Hungarian Queen and the other the scat of Prince Arpad.