When he uncovered this trove of the embalmers papers, he stumbled upon the document where the embalmer recorded all the chemicals that were injected in the body of Rosalia. Her father Mario Lombardo was understandably so beset with heartache that he sought out a renowned local embalmer by the name of Alfredo Salafia. Zinc to petrify the body. Maria Cara Lombardo e Mario Lombardo, i genitori della piccola Rosalia (per gentile concessione della . He made a small puncture and injected a mixture of zinc salts, formalin, glycerin, and salicylic acid. Generated by Wordfence at Thu, 2 Mar 2023 1:21:04 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. The heartbroken father of Rosalia sought the help of an embalmer named Alfredo Salafia to preserve his childs body. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). Their families would continue to fund the monks who cared for the deceased for example with new clothes. Mario Lombardo is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. The researchers were able to ascertain that the internal organs are still in perfect condition, but it is the face that is surprising, that face that every visitor to the Catacombs of Palermo can observe with his own eyes. Thanks to the technological tools we have today, the researchers noticed the presence of an empty bottle under the little girl's head. The corpse was preserved nearly perfectly due to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb. In 1933 when the Sicilian embalmer passed away, he wrote down the secret formula of the preservation. And the body of Alfredo Salaria? Palermo is a city with amazing architecture which much of its designs remaining from the Norman and Arab invasions. [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. 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. 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. STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Scientists have determined that changes in humidity in the catacombs cause changes of pressure in her body and thus her eyes to open. Thanks to Salafia's embalming techniques, the body was well-preserved. 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. Surely, some will say, Alfredo Salaria has studied a lot to obtain this surprising result. Is it better to believe in science or in the irrational? To tell the truth, many people claim to have seen his eyelids blink. Biblio data only below the dashed line. Moreover, her striking crystal blue eyes are also visible underneath the blonde eyelashes. (The oldest is a friar from 1599 called Silvestro da Gubbio). Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to "blame" someone. The problem at the time, was that no one knew how Rosalia had been preserved. Coming to this conclusion was not difficult for them. Many of these ingredients are commonly used today, but the shining star of this concoction is the zinc salts which essentially petrified her body. He also sought the embalmers elixir of preservation which has kept her form so perfect even until this day. Rosalia Lombardos one hundred year old body may be the most beautifully embalmed body in the world. 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. After the embalming, Rosalia was then transported to the Catacombs of the Capuchins, which was made possible by the mayor of the city, Giuseppe Lanza di Scalea, who in fact gave his permission. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. In fact, a few years ago it was realized that the girl's face was going to meet a normal decay. Rosalia Lombardo, was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Rosalias dead body has caught the attention of everyone, as people have noticed her eyelids move many times, seeming like she is blinking. 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. The monks agreed and she was one of the last mummies placed in the catacombs. The glass case also protects the body from any effects of light. Rosalia died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920. Mario and Maria are not married at the time of Rosalia's birth, but they are very much in love. Father of Rosalia Lombardo and Rosalia Lombardo. A corridor of mummies inside the catacombs. He studied and experimented, yes, but in total autonomy. 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. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. The embalmers relatives gave him several of Alfredo Salafias documents. [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. all right reserved. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years. Required fields are marked *. The little girl died and her father was extremely upset. Mario Lombardo refused to bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him distraught. The salts preserved her appearance perfectly, even preventing her nasal cavities and her cheeks from caving in. 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. Alcohol dries the body 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. General Mario Lombardo, who is said to have been so grief-stricken when she died that he refused to bury her and instead chose to have her body preserved. 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. This mystery of blinking eyes, and the well-preserved body is what makes Rosalias mummy so fascinating. The Remains of Dead US Presidents Will Be Sent Into Space, The Man Who Surgically Brought Back Unicorns. 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. Recommended Visit: Alfredo Salafia was regarded as the finest because of his extensive knowledge in the preservation of corpses. In short, Rosalia is a 98 year old mummy. According to the laws of the time, in fact, the embalmed bodies should have remained in the Catacombs only temporarily, only to later find a definitive burial, a burial that Rosalia never had. It was still a mystery until the curator of Capuchin catacombs, Dario Piombino-Mascali, proved a new theory. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. They moved to other Italian cities and then also abroad, thus without having the opportunity to choose a cemetery where to bury their child. Bronchopneumonia, diphtheria, typhus, over the years these have been the most widespread theories on the death of little Rosalia. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). [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". In fact, the body of little Rosalia has organs in a perfect state of preservation and you can see how one lung is denser than the other, a clear sign that the little girl actually fell ill with bronchopneumonia. 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. This process does not offer any kind of respect for the facial features, but despite this there were many people who sought such treatment. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. This entry was posted by Caleb Wilde on March 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and is filed under Aggregate Death. 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. The Lombardo family was Italian and although the Spanish flu pandemic was ending, it seemed that Rosalia's pneumonia may have been caused by this deadly disease. Some said this was her spirit returning to her body. Rosalia's father Mario Lombardo was devastated by her death and approached Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her. The Normans were a group from France unified by a famous Viking called Rollo who took over much of Europe. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could blame someone. 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. The first 3D image of Rosalia revealed that all the organs of her body are perfectly intact even after so many decades. The eyes are half closed, so that the face can appear even more relaxed and sweet, an intense serenity. Mario Lombardo is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. How did you succeed in this feat? It seems that it was the video surveillance cameras that noticed this light and slow movement. Via Panepinto 8 I-92022 Cammarata (Ag) Italy Mario Lombardo, Rosalia's father, was determined to find out the exact cause of her death in order to assign blame. The story of Rosalia Lombardo got to Profesor Salafia, therefore he never charged the father for his services. But the proof of her heritage doesn't exist. She looks like a baby peacefully taking a nap, and although a blanket is placed over the coffin, the face is visible. But Salafia did something different. Get notified of the best best booming posts weekly. Rosalia's father, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved upon her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Suddenly, however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple. A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the little girl is just dozing under the glass case of the casket. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They were famed for their Romanesque architecture, characterized by semi-circular arches. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. Create Biography . Your email address will not be published. Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalia's remains. The empty body is then filled with natron salts, which desiccate it. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". 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. One of the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful mummy is the embalming process that was used to preserve her. So what is legend passed down for the romanticism of love and loss, and what is the truth? Legend has it that she was a sickly child who suffered illnesses and pain until she contracted a pneumonia at the age of 2 and died from her illness. Thanks to Salafias embalming techniques, the body was well preserved. In 2009, an MRI scan of the little girl was performed, to see the state of preservation of the interior of the body. He then handed it over to the researchers who discovered the formula right there to guarantee a body the eternal sleep it deserves. Children of Llullaillaco: Where Young Children Were Sacrificed to the Gods, Church of the Dead: Home to the Peculiar Mummies of Provincial Italy. Thanks to Salafia, the body was well preserved. A symbol of love, death, loss and a reminder of just how short life can be. The grid is of the coffin beneath the body (Source:National Geographic). La Pascualita: An Extremely Well-Preserved Corpse, or an Eerily Life-like Mannequin? These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. (HTTP response code 503). While her eyes generally open just slightly more than 1/8th of an inch, they open to reveal perfectly intact baby blue eyes. The formalin wiped out all the bacteria, and the salicylic acid helped in removing any fungi present in the flesh. Rosalia Lombardo in her glass coffin. The body of Rosalia Lombardo is certainly not the first on which Alfredo Salaria put his hands, considered one of the best embalmers of the twentieth century, chosen by many noble families over the years to create bodies for their loved ones. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. But the proof of her heritage doesnt exist. She lays near THOUSANDS of preserved humans in the 4 corridors beneath the Capuchin Church - Palermo, Sicily for all to see. Her father was so grief-stricken that he sought the aid of an embalmer and taxidermist to preserve his child. Salafia replaced the girls blood with a liquid made of formalin to kill bacteria, alcohol to dry the body, glycerin to keep her from overdrying, salicylic acid to kill fungi, and zinc salts to give her body rigidity. Rosalia Lombardo born on December 13, 1918, was a Sicilian kid that died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920 from the Spanish flu. 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. It is a location rich in history between Europe and Africa on the banks of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rosalia meant the world to her family, especially her father who sought to preserve her eternally. According to him, everything people are seeing is actually an optical illusion. But, this supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about. 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. Much of their rules involved living in as much austerity that was practical. Upcoming historian with over 30 million views online. For years the mix of chemicals that Alfredo Salaria used on Rosalia remained unknown, as well as the technique used. (The oldest is a friar from 1599 called Silvestro da Gubbio). Despite providing her with the greatest medicine available at the time, she was still extremely young and lacked the necessary immune system to combat bronchopneumonia. It is so amazingly well-maintained that even X-rays show the internal organs to be intact. Caligulas stunning 2,000-year-old sapphire ring tells of a dramatic love story, Evidence of a 14,000-year-old settlement found in western Canada, Archaeologists locate earliest known North American settlement, 2,400-year-old baskets still filled with fruit found in the submerged Egyptian city, 9,000-year-old site near Jerusalem is the Big Bang of prehistory settlement, Oldest stone tools ever found were not made by human hands, study suggests, Mysterious skeleton revealed to be that of unusual lady anchoress of York Barbican. Even the best body at some point goes towards a process of decomposition, even if only partial. Most of the people that go to visit her mummified body believe that she is a miracle since she keeps blinking even though she has been dead for a long time. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). Since 1920, her body has been lying in a glass-covered coffin, her head poking above a fading silk blanket. But why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin Catacombs for so long? A tuft of hair is also held in place by a yellow bow. The Italian biological anthropologist was able to debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo. 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. 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