The problem at the time, was that no one knew how Rosalia had been preserved. They moved to other Italian cities and then also abroad, thus without having the opportunity to choose a cemetery where to bury their child. The Normans were a group from France unified by a famous Viking called Rollo who took over much of Europe. She lies in the coffin, glass-covered and on a wooden pedestal. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. The zinc sulfate was used to petrify the body. Rosalia Lombardos story reached Professor Salafia, as he never charged his father for his services. [9] In response to speculation about her moving eyelids, Piombino-Mascali stated that "It's an optical illusion produced by the light that filters through the side windows, which during the day is subject to change [her eyes] are not completely closed, and indeed they have never been". Source: Multidetector CT investigation of the mummy of Rosalia Lombardo (19181920): https://www.academia.edu/4992159/Multidetector_CT_investigation_of_ Geni requires JavaScript! Piombino-Mascali hopes that visitors will stop making any new stories about the little child mummy. But, this supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 6 December 1920)[1] was a Palermitan child who died of pneumonia, resulting from the Spanish flu,[2] one week before her second birthday. [3] Sometimes called "Sleeping Beauty", hers was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. Rosalia Lombardos body is kept in a small chapel at the end of the catacombs tour and is encased in a glass covered coffin, placed on a wooden pedestal. Some researchers, who had the opportunity to study the girl's body, later discovered that it was most likely bronchopneumonia, discarding the other theories instead. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. According to Piombino-Mascali, the blinking eyes of Rosalia were just an optical illusion, caused when light from windows strikes her eyes at different angles. Losing a child is always a tragedy, and if it is a child of just a few years of life, the tragedy is undoubtedly even greater and more difficult to bear. Available at: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/06/mystery-of-blinking-child-mummy-solved.html. Advertising Disclosure: This content may use referral links. Many of these ingredients are commonly used today, but the shining star of this concoction is the zinc salts which essentially petrified her body. I wrote about the Capuchin Catacombs already, but essentially, the Catacombs were a place where the dead were displayed in order to be visited by the living. Thanks to Salafia, the body was well preserved. Rosalia Lombardo's father, official Mario Lombardo, was severely upset by the death of his loved daughter and contacted a famous Sicilian embalmer, Alfredo Salafia, to preserve the body of Rosalia. A tuft of hair is also held in place by a yellow bow. Notes documenting Rosalias mummification were discovered in the 1970s. A Net Inceptions project. The formalin wiped out all the bacteria, and the salicylic acid helped in removing any fungi present in the flesh. One resident was not famous in her short life but became infamous in death. Xolotl the Dog God of the Aztec mythology that guides the dead to the underworld, The Ebers Papyrus: Ancient Egyptian medical text reveals medico-magical beliefs and beneficial treatments. There are those who claim that it is a mere optical illusion, caused by how the light falls on those half-closed eyelids. He was always waiting for . The story of Rosalia Lombardo got to Profesor Salafia, therefore he never charged the father for his services. Your email address will not be published. Mario Lombardo is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. This added to an intricate system of drying rooms within the catacombs which implement pipes to drain any excess water and ultimately keep the bodies of the deceased dry. Further studies however, including time-lapse photos by National Geographic, show that Rosalia does in fact blink several times an hour! Upcoming historian with over 30 million views online. The paraffin dissolved in the ether, then wiped on the girls face, making it look like she is looking directly at those who are looking at her. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. These blue eyes, like the rest of her body, are remarkably intact. When reports of Rosalia Lombardos eyes opening shocked the local community an Anthropologist called Dario Piombino-Mascali investigated the catacombs. VAT No. While her eyes generally open just slightly more than 1/8th of an inch, they open to reveal perfectly intact baby blue eyes. At a closer look, it can be seen that her eyes are not 100% closed and this was probably done with the intention by Alfredo Salafia to make her look more alive. The Lombardo family was . Mario Lombardo Collection: FamilySearch Family Tree Birth: 1890 - Italy Death: 1980 Wife: Maria Lombardo (born Di Cara) Children: Rosalia Lombardo, Rosalia Lombardo View the Record view all Immediate Family Maria Di Cara wife Rosalia Lombardo daughter Rosalia Lombardo daughter About Mario Lombardo Managed by: David Nicholas Yustin: After which, they were bathed in vinegar and stuffed with hay. Many of the bodies who hang on the walls were protected in cages because some tourists had a kleptomaniacal penchant for taking bones as souvenirs. Alba incoming - Eurofirst Tours It is considered one of the best-preserved mummies in the world. Rosalias preserved body came out looking like the most alive mummy in the world. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Log In Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. Read more on Wikipedia. Biblio data only below the dashed line. He made a small puncture and injected a mixture of zinc salts, formalin, glycerin, and salicylic acid. Much of their rules involved living in as much austerity that was practical. The embalming of the body of Rosalia Lombardo by Alfredo Salaria. It seems that it was a common practice to insert a bottle in the coffin containing the reagent capable of preventing the formation of mold and ensuring that the body was preserved longer. Rosalia Lombardos angel face pushed him to improve the preservation technique in order to preserve its natural beauty. Thanks to these tricks it will be possible to keep this body intact for a long, long time. The older we get, the more constant they appear. Alfredo Salaria arrived at the house of the Lombardo spouses, located in Piazza San Francesco di Paola, about 24 hours after the child's death. The mummy is one of the best preserved bodies in the catacombs. Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that Rosalia's parents requested that the child's body be entrusted to Alfredo Salaria, one of the most famous embalmers of the twentieth century, with the hope in this way of being able to pay homage to the memory of the little girl, torn all too young to life, with the hope of being able to stop the passage of time. Who is wrong? For after all, the dead have no need for grand decorations in this realm they leave behind. After 7 months from the birth of the child they also decide to get married, aware that they need to take this step in order to guarantee serenity and tranquility for their family. It was founded in 734 BC by the Phoenician Empire who we have spoken about many times onSTSTW Mediaas one of the defining civilisations of our time. Rosalias dead body has caught the attention of everyone, as people have noticed her eyelids move many times, seeming like she is blinking. The Lombardo family was Italian, and despite the fact that the Spanish flu pandemic was coming to an end, the girl's pneumonia appeared to have been caused by this lethal illness. In fact, a few years ago it was realized that the girl's face was going to meet a normal decay. Home. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. Rosalia died barely one week before her second birthday. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. Shes located in the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily with over 8,000 other mummies. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920) was a Sicilian child who died of pneumonia, resulting from the Spanish flu, one week shy of her second birthday. Ninety years ago, on December 6, 1920 Rosalia, daughter of Official Mario Lombardo, died of pneumonia at the age of two. Recently, the mummification techniques used by Salafia were discovered in a handwritten memoir of Salafias. Father of Rosalia Lombardo and Rosalia Lombardo. Within Palermo, the catacombs are a short walk from the city center, but public transportation is also available. Then, later in 2009 Dario Piombino-Mascali, a biological anthropologist sought out Alfredos living descendants and asked to go through his things for clues as to the formula. In the depths of the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily lies the dead body of a young girl in a wooden and glass casket. The mystery was soon solved when he observed that a filtration of light from the windows was catching her eye-lens to cause the illusion of life. He approached a popular embalmer, Alfredo Salafia and asked to have her preserved for eternity. Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalias remains. He studied and experimented, yes, but in total autonomy. Required fields are marked *. Amazingly, 8000 skeletons (although a more accurate number is said to be closer to 2,000) and around 1250 mummies inhabit the catacombs. Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to "blame" someone. Rosalia, an Italian child born on December 13 in the year 1918, died due to pneumonia as a result of the Spanish flu less than two years later, on December 6, 1920. The body was so amazingly preserved that Rosalias body is intact over 100 years later. [7] The embalming formula is described as "one part glycerin, one part formalin saturated with zinc sulfate and zinc chloride, and one part of an alcohol solution saturated with salicylic acid", and was entered into the body through a single-point injection, most likely into the femoral artery via a gravity injector. It is possible that contact with the air before its replacement may have resulted in damage. In fact, some say that Rosalia amplifies human nature in regards to the fascination of the unknown, specifically death and also with the immorality of an immortal body. Powered by WordPress and Mystique theme by digitalnature | RSS Feeds, Working at the Crossroads of Life and Death, When the Public Viewing of a Mutilated Body is a Statement: The Funeral of Emmett Till. Scientists have determined that changes in humidity in the catacombs cause changes of pressure in her body and thus her eyes to open. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. But what curiosity are we talking about? Mario Lombardo Unfortunately, though Rosalia is just 98 years old (a fairly young mummy) the truth about her life before death and her family is speculated, but unconfirmed. People Projects . Rosalia, an Italian child born on December 13 in the year 1918, died due to pneumonia as a result of the Spanish flu less than two years later, on December 6, 1920. Rosalia Lombardos remains is housed in a tiny chapel at the end of the catacomb tour, enclosed in a glass-covered coffin on a wooden pedestal. Rosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old girl, died in 1920 from an intensified case of bronchopneumonia, a kind of pneumonia that involves inflammation in the alveoli. A symbol of love, death, loss and a reminder of just how short life can be. The notes are yet another formula for several chemicals used in mummification: Rosalia Lombardo is also known as the Capuchin Catacombs Sleeping Beauty. Her mummified remains has been kept at Palermos Catacombe dei Cappuccini, a location packed with mummified bodies and other peoples corpses from throughout history. In the 1970s, the notes describing Rosalias mummification were found. Even the best body at some point goes towards a process of decomposition, even if only partial. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A multitude of skeletons line the walls in these catacombs to give a more than eerie vibe, and having experienced it for myself a strange sensation runs through as one enters the cold surroundings. That same year, Capuchin catacombs curator Dario Piombino-Mascali discovered a handwritten manuscript written by Salafia, wherein he lists the ingredients used to mummify Rosalia. To tell the truth, many people claim to have seen his eyelids blink. The corpse was preserved nearly perfectly due to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb. Salicylic acid to stop the growth of fungi Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could blame someone. ", "Why Does This Child Mummy Appear to Open And Close Her Eyes? To address these issues the mummy was moved to a drier spot in the catacombs, and her original coffin was placed in a hermetically sealed glass enclosure with nitrogen gas to prevent decay. Impossible to answer these questions. The body of Rosalia is famous among the 8,000 bodies present in these catacombs under the Capuchin convent. I spend many hours researching her and you can read more about that here if you want. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo who died on November 6th, 1920 with only two summers to her name and remains the youngest on show. The formula consisted of formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycerin. It is a location rich in history between Europe and Africa on the banks of the Tyrrhenian Sea. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The first 3D image of Rosalia revealed that all the organs of her body are perfectly intact even after so many decades. (In Pics) Ten Extinct Animals which Survive only in Drawings. According to him, everything people are seeing is actually an optical illusion. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. Life is full of constant reminders that we will one day die. Children of Llullaillaco: Where Young Children Were Sacrificed to the Gods, Church of the Dead: Home to the Peculiar Mummies of Provincial Italy. People were curious to know what was causing the dead body to blink. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Mario, her father, approached Alfredo Salafia, embalmer and taxidermist, to preserve her. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Many others thought that the eyes might blink due to the temperature changes inside the catacomb, which made her eyelids contract and thus produced the blink-like effect. [4] Rosalia Lombardo's body is kept in a small chapel at the end of the catacomb's tour and is encased in a glass covered coffin, placed on a wooden pedestal. Who is right? The father refused to bury his daughter, seemingly extremely traumatized because of losing his child.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Rosalias death took place only a week shy of her second birthday. The researchers wanted to see what state his body was in. Via Panepinto 8 I-92022 Cammarata (Ag) Italy Rosalia's dad, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved after her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Another writer speaks of the temptation and sights that Palermo offers to some famous people of history past, Aunique cultural heritagethat in many centuries has attracted and fascinated onlookers from all over the world, including many intellectuals, poets and writers such asAlexandre Dumas, Mario Praz, Guy de Maupassant, Fanny Lewald and Carlo Levi.. 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The typical embalming procedures include the complete removal of organs. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Even if the little girl's body has not found a worthy burial, the choice to embalm her so as to be able to give her eternal rest and to give her name to her little sister are the clear sign of how much Rosalia was loved. all right reserved. The changing direction of the light through the day makes Rosalias eyes seem to open and close many times. So ajar, they always seem on the verge of opening up, as if there is a hope that that little girl can return to life. A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the little girl is just dozing under the glass case of the casket. Missing Three Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers. Then one day one of the descendants of the Salaria family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript. Not only was the eye blinking mystery solved by Piombino-Mascali, but he also managed to track down the embalming formula Alfredo Salafia used to preserve the body of Rosalia in such impeccable condition. Her mummified body, sometimes referred to as 'Sleeping Beauty', was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin . Maybe he finished middle school, nothing more. Rosalia Lombardo (Born December 13, 1918 and Died December 6, 1920) was a Palmerian toddler who died one week before her second birthday from pneumonia caused by the Spanish flu. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Glycerin, and unexplained Mysteries include the complete removal of organs, to preserve remains. More constant they appear the changing direction of the best preserved bodies in the are. This supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about asked Alfredo Salafia, therefore he mario lombardo father of rosalia his! 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To learn about to reveal perfectly intact baby blue eyes, like the little girl is dozing! The father for his services seeing is actually an optical illusion he asked an embalmer, Alfredo Salafia and to... That we will one day die enable JavaScript in your browser only with your consent articles on archaeology history., her father, mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, the more they! Just how short life can be have been blocked in error, contact the owner of site. Was well preserved get, the dead have no need for grand decorations in realm... To learn about to Salafia, therefore he never charged his father for his services Policy contact!
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