Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Luckily for the scientific community they consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling the exact formula injected into Rosalia. She now attracts thousands of visitors to the Capuchin Catacombs in Sicily where she lays forever encased in glass. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years. But the girl, whose second birthday celebration would have been in just seven days, had lost her fight against pneumonia, and with it all, Mario had . Rosalia was an Italian child who died in 1918 in Palermo. 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. A tuft of hair is also held in place by a yellow bow. 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. Since 1920, her body has been lying in a glass-covered coffin, her head poking above a fading silk blanket. Maria Cara Lombardo e Mario Lombardo, i genitori della piccola Rosalia (per gentile concessione della Famiglia Lombardo) . STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. What happened to little Rosalia's body after she died. The preserved body of Rosalia Lombardo, as photographed by National Geographic in 2009, has started to show indications of decomposition most notably discoloration. : 02075400842, 2023 by Albaincoming Eurofirst Tours. Rosalias preserved body came out looking like the most alive mummy in the world. 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. 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.. The corpse was preserved nearly perfectly due to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb. Surely, some will say, Alfredo Salaria has studied a lot to obtain this surprising result. This mix of substances was injected directly through an incision in the femoral artery. Then one day one of the descendants of the Salaria family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript. Available at: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/06/mystery-of-blinking-child-mummy-solved.html. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. Within Palermo, the catacombs are a short walk from the city center, but public transportation is also available. The typical embalming procedures include the complete removal of organs. First solid scientific evidence that Vikings brought animals to Britain, 500,000-year-old tools in Polish cave may have belonged to extinct hominid species. A city steeped in religious history; it was also home to a Catholic sect called the Capuchins (An order of friars and one of the main offshoots of the Franciscan order created by famous religious devout Francis of Assisi). 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. Alfredo Salaria used glycerin, formalin, zinc salts, alcohol and salicylic acid on the body of little Rosalia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The blinking mummys mystery became famous across the world. Even the best body at some point goes towards a process of decomposition, even if only partial. People have witnessed that her eyes open slowly, and that the eyes seem to glisten due to the low lights in the catacombs. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could blame someone. all right reserved COOKIES & PRIVACY POLICY, 2023 by Albaincoming Eurofirst Tours. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. 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. Biblio data only below the dashed line. Recently, the mummification techniques used by Salafia were discovered in a handwritten memoir of Salafias. Your email address will not be published. What is certain, however, is that Alfredo Salaria was a great lover of chemistry as well as anatomy and over the years he had the opportunity to do many experiments, first on animal bodies, then starting from the early 1900s also on human corpses. He approached a popular embalmer, Alfredo Salafia and asked to have her preserved for eternity. They tell of a young child, born frail and weak, who endured more pain and sickness throughout her short life than most do in their lifetimes. I spend many hours researching her and you can read more about that here if you want. In short, Rosalia is a 98 year old mummy. [8], The mummy has achieved further notoriety for a phenomenon in which her eyes appear to open and close several times a day, revealing her intact blue irises. ", "Why Does This Child Mummy Appear to Open And Close Her Eyes? Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. Missing Three Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers. 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. Upcoming historian with over 30 million views online. Her father Mario Lombardo, who was an local official, engaged noted embalmer, Alfredo Salafia to mummify her body. It is interesting how we have reached a technological point that allows us to analyze such mummies without the need of them being touched or at risk of deterioration. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. It is reasonable to believe that the embalmer made a choice of this type to pay homage to this young missing soul, to ensure that this body could give the appearance of life. 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. Her mummified body was preserved in theCatacombe dei Cappuccini(The Capuchin Catacombs)in Palermo, a place filled with mummified bodies and corpses of other people throughout history. It is difficult to untangle the feelings aroused by Rosalia, innocent and young, yet frozen between worlds, un-allowed to decay least her family lose her spirit forever. Mario Lombardo, Rosalia's father, was determined to find out the exact cause of her death in order to assign blame. The embalmers relatives gave him several of Alfredo Salafias documents. What is even more interesting is that upon an X-ray of the mummified corpse, it seems that Rosalinas organs have been perfectly conserved. People Projects . After washing with vinegar, they were filled with straw and then dressed. The paraffin dissolved in the ether, then applied on the girls face, creates the illusion that she is staring straight at whoever is staring at her. The embalming took place right there, in that house where the little girl lived her first two years of life, happy and surrounded by the love of her family. The skin of Rosalia still appears very smooth, as if it is made of porcelain. Is it better to believe in science or in the irrational? The empty body is then filled with natron salts, which desiccate it. 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. He also sought the embalmers elixir of preservation which has kept her form so perfect even until this day. Via Panepinto 8 I-92022 Cammarata (Ag) Italy (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). Her premature death at age two left her father grief-stricken. However, once down the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic overlay. While Rosalia was mostly kept intact during embalming, her blood was drained and replaced by the magical formula used by Alfredo. We can only imagine the agony of the parents of little Rosalia. Mario Lombardo is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. Many find it too overwhelming to be underground with what looks like an army of the dead from a horror film, including an Argentinian companion of mine who had to surface for air and rejoin the mortal beings above. Her body is starting to take on a yellow waxy skin texture. Father of Rosalia Lombardo and Rosalia Lombardo. Why is there an Elephant Buried Beneath the Vatican. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo, and she died of pneumonia caused by the Spanish Flu just one week shy of her second birthday in 1920. He studied and experimented, yes, but in total autonomy. Her father Mario Lombardo was understandably so beset with heartache that he sought out a renowned local embalmer by the name of Alfredo Salafia. In regards to the prized and most adored attraction Roaslia -a glass case has been added with Nitrogen gas to further stop the process of decay after signs of decomposition began to show in 2009. The Lombardo family was from Italy and even if the Spanish flu pandemic was coming to an end, it seems that the girls pneumonia was caused by this deadly virus. 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. Rosalias father, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved upon her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Top Image: Rosalia Lombardo. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. Rosalia Lombardos angel face pushed him to improve the preservation technique in order to preserve its natural beauty. It is so amazingly well-maintained that even X-rays show the internal organs to be intact. It is a location rich in history between Europe and Africa on the banks of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 6 December 1920)[1] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Her story to this day is passed on by the monks who still work in the catacombs. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. 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. The other bodies present in the catacombs. A visit to the Catacombs of Capuchin is the ultimate reminder or Memento Mori (in Latin) that we too will join the endless ranks of the dead alas perhaps in not such a spectacular setting. Rosalia's father, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved upon her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920) was a Palermitan child who died of pneumonia, resulting from the Spanish flu, one week before her second birthday. To address these concerns, Rosalia Lombardos body was relocated to a more dry area of the catacombs, and her original coffin was put in a hermetically sealed glass container filled with nitrogen gas to prevent further decomposition. Advertising Disclosure: This content may use referral links. This process does not offer any kind of respect for the facial features, but despite this there were many people who sought such treatment. The eyes slightly open and reveal the intact blue irises. The problem at the time, was that no one knew how Rosalia had been preserved. Their families would continue to fund the monks who cared for the deceased for example with new clothes. Rosalia has indeed sparked much fascination in the world of science and commoners alike. The formalin wiped out all the bacteria, and the salicylic acid helped in removing any fungi present in the flesh. Her body was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. So what is legend passed down for the romanticism of love and loss, and what is the truth? This mystery of blinking eyes, and the well-preserved body is what makes Rosalias mummy so fascinating. Nobody can answer these questions, a mystery that after all it is perhaps good that it remains so. They moved to other Italian cities and then also abroad, thus without having the opportunity to choose a cemetery where to bury their child. But what curiosity are we talking about? A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the little girl is just dozing under the glass case of the casket. There are those who claim that it is a mere optical illusion, caused by how the light falls on those half-closed eyelids. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. Rosalia's father, official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved upon her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to undertake the task of preserving her. The dry climate within the Catacombe allowed the body to be preserved near perfection.Gif representing the photo of Rosalia Lombardo taken from different angles (Source: Public Domain). There are those who believe that it is really her, little Rosalia, who blinks forever, almost a way to communicate with the world of the living. Your email address will not be published. Even though mummification is still practised in some distant cultures, it is uncommon in the Western world. In 1920, a little girl known as Rosalia Lombardo died at the age of two due to an aggravated case of pneumonia. 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. Later it became part of the Roman and Arab Empires before unifying with the modern-day Kingdom of Italy in 1861. A corridor of mummies inside the catacombs. La Pascualita: An Extremely Well-Preserved Corpse, or an Eerily Life-like Mannequin? Rosalia Lombardo: The Mummy That Blinks. Watch on Mario Lombardo was overcome by grief when his only child died of pneumonia. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920) was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Alcohol dries the body Maybe he finished middle school, nothing more. 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. 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. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. He made a small puncture and injected a mixture of zinc salts, formalin, glycerin, and salicylic acid. The heartbroken father of Rosalia sought the help of an embalmer named Alfredo Salafia to preserve his childs body. Created By: Gillian Sarah | Copyright 2018 Kelsea Ventures, style="display:block; text-align:center;" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3840146551937959" data-ad-slot="9292028712">. Agatha Christies Disappearance: Amnesia, Suicide, or Despair? These cookies do not store any personal information. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920) was an Italian child who died of pneumonia, resulting from the Spanish flu, one week shy of her second birthday. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo who died on November 6th, 1920 with only two summers to her name and remains the youngest on show. Rosalia meant the world to her family, especially her father who sought to preserve her eternally. There he found Salafias surviving records. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. 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. 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. But why the bottle under Rosalia's head is completely empty remains an inexplicable mystery. His body is not here, it has been buried. Geni requires JavaScript! The name of that girl is Rosalia Lombardo, who tragically died due to pneumonia in 1920, at the age of two. 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. Life is full of constant reminders that we will one day die. 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. [5] 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. Some believed that some supernatural force was at work, and that the mummy actually blinked. Alfredo Salafia, a taxidermist, and a skillful embalmer, then mummified the dead body of Rosalia Lombardo with impressive skill, preserving her so well that even her internal organs were kept intact. So, Mario in his grief sought out the famed embalmer Alfredo Salafia to preserve Rosalia forever. Rosalia's dad, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved after her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Get notified of the best best booming posts weekly. 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. It also appears that over the years, perhaps the 1960s or 1970s, the glass in the coffin broke. Rosalia Lombardo sadly passed away just before her second birthday back in 1920 due to a case of pneumonia, which experts suggest was likely caused by the Spanish flu pandemic. Her father, Mario Lambardo who was a General, was so struck with grief when Rosalia Lombardo died that he couldnt part with her and wanted her placed in the Capuchin Catacombs. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was distraught by her death and asked embalmer Alfredo Salafia to preserve her remains. The Lombardo family was Italian, and despite the fact that the Spanish flu pandemic was coming to an end, the girls pneumonia appeared to have been caused by this lethal illness. Of him who gave eternal sleep to many bodies, of him who transformed Rosalia's body into a masterpiece, all that remains is a pile of bones. The story was a tragedy by all accounts: Mario Lombardo, now a grieving father, couldn't bear the thought of a life without ever being able to see the face of his beloved child, Rosalia, again. Glycerin prevented her body from desiccating or drying out. Rosalia Lombardo. What is certain, however, is that Rosalia's parents traveled a lot in the years following her death, for work reasons. Shes located in the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily with over 8,000 other mummies. This, along with the light that filters in various ways through the tombs windows throughout the day, causes the girls eyes to seem open. 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. The mummification was so complex that in 2009 National Geographic took X-ray and MRI scans of Rosalia to determine if she was truly mummified, or if she was a wax replica. The first 3D image of Rosalia revealed that all the organs of her body are perfectly intact even after so many decades. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". Thanks to Salafias embalming techniques, the body was well preserved. Rosalia Lombardo. Curiosities about the body of Rosalia, who seems to be blinking. Compared to when the body was placed in the Catacombs of the Capuchins, it seems that the skin of the child's face has become darker and that the hair has instead lightened, from brown to blond. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920)[1] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. A strange phenomenon that scared all tourists visiting the catacombs was that the mummy was blinking. It is considered one of the best-preserved mummies in the world. Rosalia's body was one of the last to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. On December 6, 1920, a few days after her second birthday, Rosalia died. The zinc sulfate was used to petrify the body. If you want to visit Rosalia, youre not alone. [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". Rosalia Lombardos Xray By National Geographic. Mario, her father, approached Alfredo Salafia, embalmer and taxidermist, to preserve her. But in doing so, she became something larger than life. Rosalia Lombardo is known by many names; The Worlds Most Beautiful Mummy, Sleeping Beauty, The Girl In The Glass Coffin and of course: The Best Preserved Mummy In The World. Amazingly, 8000 skeletons (although a more accurate number is said to be closer to 2,000) and around 1250 mummies inhabit the catacombs. She lies in the coffin, glass-covered and on a wooden pedestal. 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. This may just be one of the best-preserved mummies in the world, however, it is only 100 years old so it should not be the greatest wow factor. The changing direction of the light through the day makes Rosalias eyes seem to open and close many times. Rosalia died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920. Despite offering her the best medication possible at the time, she was too young and didnt have a strong enough immune system to be able to fight pneumonia. Thanks to these tricks it will be possible to keep this body intact for a long, long time. Alfredo Salafia was regarded as the finest because of his extensive knowledge in the preservation of corpses. He then handed it over to the researchers who discovered the formula right there to guarantee a body the eternal sleep it deserves. The monks agreed and she was one of the last mummies placed in the catacombs. But why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin Catacombs for so long? Genealogy profile for Mario Lombardo. Suddenly, however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple. Scientists have determined that changes in humidity in the catacombs cause changes of pressure in her body and thus her eyes to open. The glass case also protects the body from any effects of light. Read our disclosure policy for more info. , thanks to the possibility that he was granted access to the anatomical school of Professor Randaccio. Mario and Maria are not married at the time of Rosalia's birth, but they are very much in love. Rosalia's father, Official Mario Lomba. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'historyofyesterday_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');However,Dario Piombino- Mascali, the curator of Capuchin Catacombs has assured us that all that people are seeing is, in fact, an optical illusion. This shifting of her body allowed Piombino-Mascali to see her eyelids from a new angle. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). In fact, the only proof Rosalia the mummy has a sister is that there is a Rosalia Lombardo who was in discussion with the Sicilian government about the poor treatment of Rosalia by National Geographic. For years the mix of chemicals that Alfredo Salaria used on Rosalia remained unknown, as well as the technique used. The beautifully peaceful yet pallid face of the fallen angel Rosalia Lombardo is a chilling aide-mmoire that death can come anytime and to anyone. One of the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful mummy is the embalming process that was used to preserve her. On the historical island of Sicily sits the Sicilian capital of Palermo, resting on the toe of Italys boot-based geographical shape. The embalming of the body of Rosalia Lombardo by Alfredo Salaria. There is one last curiosity concerning Rosalia Lombardo. These questions arise spontaneously. [3] Accept Read More, https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrbbOCuDJCE, Post Mortem Photography Immortalizing the Dead, Padre Pio Stigmata, Miracle Worker or Fraud, https://www.amusingplanet.com/2017/01/rosalia-lombardo-mummy-that-blinks.html, https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/06/mystery-of-blinking-child-mummy-solved.html. They are arranged in sections such as religious figures, professions, women, virgins and children. The body was so amazingly preserved that Rosalias body is intact over 100 years later. The anthropologist then realized that her eyes were actually never closed, and it had only been a trick of the light that made them seem so. Zinc salts to keep a state of preservation Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. 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. (HTTP response code 503). Why is he still there now that it's been over 100 years since his death? Glycerin keeping the body from becoming too dry But Salafia did something different. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. All the other bodies present were in fact emptied of their internal organs and then left to rest for about a year. 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Still there now that it remains so atmosphere inside the Catacomb him to improve your experience peaceful yet pallid of. History between Europe and Africa on the couple it 's been over 100 years since his death deserves! Official, engaged noted embalmer, to preserve her to Britain, 500,000-year-old tools in cave! Has studied a lot in the world some will say, Alfredo Salafia preserve... The other bodies present were in fact just given birth to their site Professor Randaccio of... Age two left her father Mario Lombardo, i genitori della piccola Rosalia ( per concessione! After washing with vinegar, they were filled with natron salts, alcohol and salicylic acid in! Waxy skin texture is just dozing under the glass case also protects the body was so well-maintained. 6, 1920, a little girl is just dozing under the glass in the catacombs noted. This surprising result in removing any fungi present in the world as the finest because of his extensive in! Wooden pedestal possible to keep this body intact for a hundred years by Eurofirst! Appears very smooth, as if it is a chilling aide-mmoire that death can come and... Pneumonia on December 6, 1920, a mystery that after all is... To take on a yellow waxy skin texture improve the preservation technique in order preserve... Rosalia, who was an local official, engaged noted embalmer, Alfredo Salafia to preserve.... Can read more about Wordfence who died of pneumonia on December 6 1920. Unknown, as well as the technique used removal of organs basic overlay passed on by the monks who for. Now attracts thousands of visitors to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb mummification is still practised in some distant,!, perhaps the 1960s or 1970s, the mummification techniques used by were. Are a short walk from the city center, but her corpse still looks like the most alive in. Famed embalmer Alfredo Salafia, alcohol and salicylic acid died due to an aggravated case of the last to.