Surely, some will say, Alfredo Salaria has studied a lot to obtain this surprising result. Glycerin keeping the body from becoming too dry 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. 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. 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. 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. Rosalia's body remains in perfect condition despite more than 100 years having passed, but it is also true that researchers and scholars have created a specially designed latest generation case for the little sleeping beauty of Sicily. 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. Her young age allowed Salafia to follow a simple mummification process that kept her angel face untouched and undeteriorated for over 100 years. 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. ", "Why Does This Child Mummy Appear to Open And Close Her Eyes? Via Panepinto 8 I-92022 Cammarata (Ag) Italy ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. What happened to little Rosalia's body after she died. The embalmers relatives gave him several of Alfredo Salafias documents. Connect to 3,088 Lombardo profiles on Geni, Antonino Lombardo,
Lombardo (ne Lombardo (Ne Corrao)), Maria Italia Lombardo, Antonino Lombardo, Lombardo, Lombardo, Lombardo, Antonino Lombardo, Rosalia Lombardo (ne Corrao), pe Dit Armando Lombardo, Concetta Pancano (ne Lombardo), Maria Italia Aiello (ne Lombardo), Antonino Lombardo, Alfredo Dit Adolfo Lombardo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Looking closer, you can notice that her eyelids are not completely closed, which was most likely done with Alfredo Salafias goal of making her more alive. Her father was so grief-stricken that he sought the aid of an embalmer and taxidermist to preserve his child. Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalia's remains. 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. 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. But let's go back to that December 6, 1920. [2] This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to "blame" someone. Rosalia's face has very sweet features, with the plump cheeks of a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair hair. Rosalias dead body has caught the attention of everyone, as people have noticed her eyelids move many times, seeming like she is blinking. But, the fact is, that theres not even a single photo of Rosalia when she was alive to validate any part of her history. These blue eyes, like the rest of her body, are remarkably intact. The grid is of the coffin beneath the body (Source:National Geographic). Palermo is a city with amazing architecture which much of its designs remaining from the Norman and Arab invasions. What is certain, however, is that Rosalia's parents traveled a lot in the years following her death, for work reasons. Sister of Rosalia Lombardo. Daughter of Mario Lombardo and Maria Di Cara The formalin wiped out all the bacteria, and the salicylic acid helped in removing any fungi present in the flesh. Moreover, her striking crystal blue eyes are also visible underneath the blonde eyelashes. It is December 13, 1918. Further studies however, including time-lapse photos by National Geographic, show that Rosalia does in fact blink several times an hour! Thank you for your cooperation.You can sign-up to the Membership any time to remove the adds and enjoy the content with no interruptions, Rosalia Lombardos perfectly preserved body, by Andrei Tapalaga | Sep 6, 2022 | Culture. 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. Many of these ingredients are commonly used today, but the shining star of this concoction is the zinc salts which essentially petrified her body. Mario Lombardo refused to bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him distraught. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. Scientists have determined that changes in humidity in the catacombs cause changes of pressure in her body and thus her eyes to open. While Rosalia was mostly kept intact during embalming, her blood was drained and replaced by the magical formula used by Alfredo. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. 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. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo who died on November 6th, 1920 with only two summers to her name and remains the youngest on show. [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 died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920. Rosalia's body was one of the last to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. 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 Avid Writer with invaluable knowledge of Humanity! [6] The mummy remains one of the best preserved bodies in the catacombs. 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. Rosalia Lombardo: The mystery of the Blinking Mummy, Present condition of Rosalia Lombardos mummy: The preserved corpse was relocated. 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. 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. 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. [2] Her mummified body, sometimes referred to as "Sleeping Beauty", was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. The catacombs of the Capuchins of Palermo. All of which would have had a unique story to tell. Rosalia Lombardo, was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. The preserved body of Rosalia Lombardo, as photographed by National Geographic in 2009, has started to show indications of decomposition most notably discoloration. The problem at the time, was that no one knew how Rosalia had been preserved. In short, Rosalia is a 98 year old mummy. And the body of Alfredo Salaria? Available at: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/06/mystery-of-blinking-child-mummy-solved.html. 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. Obviously it was expensive, for this reason these bodies almost all belong to people of high class. , thanks to the possibility that he was granted access to the anatomical school of Professor Randaccio. Her premature death at age two left her father grief-stricken. 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. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. The catacombs are open nearly everyday and the entry fee is only 3 euros. We can only imagine the agony of the parents of little Rosalia. Get notified of the best best booming posts weekly. 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. This, combined with the light which is filtrated in different ways during the day through the windows of the catacombs makes the girls eyes look like they are open.A team of researchers performing X-ray on Rosalias body (Source:National Geographic)This X-ray clearly shows Rosalias arms and feet (Source:National Geographic)The X-ray of Rosalia showed her brain and liver intact. 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. Her father Mario Lombardo was understandably so beset with heartache that he sought out a renowned local embalmer by the name of Alfredo Salafia. Since 1920, her body has been lying in a glass-covered coffin, her head poking above a fading silk blanket. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The name of that girl is Rosalia Lombardo, who tragically died due to pneumonia in 1920, at the age of two. The story of Rosalia is speculated, but unknown. The latter was a Sicilian little girl born in 1918 and dead in 1920 of pneumonia, at just two years. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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 . Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. Mario and Maria are not married at the time of Rosalia's birth, but they are very much in love. Alfredo Salafia was regarded as the finest because of his extensive knowledge in the preservation of corpses. Read our disclosure policy for more info. This is a place that you have certainly heard of several times and that we can assure you, deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. 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. Rosalia Lombardo: The Mummy That Blinks. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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 1933 when the Sicilian embalmer passed away, he wrote down the secret formula of the preservation. This shifting of her body allowed Piombino-Mascali to see her eyelids from a new angle. Maria Cara Lombardo e Mario Lombardo, i genitori della piccola Rosalia (per gentile concessione della . Some believed that some supernatural force was at work, and that the mummy actually blinked. It is so amazingly well-maintained that even X-rays show the internal organs to be intact. Interesting history topics are just a click away. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. 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. 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. Most visitors to her mummified remains say she is a miracle because she blinks even though she has been dead for a long time. It is thanks to all of this that little Rosalia's body has reached us intact. Alcohol dries the body There are those who say that a slight opening and closing of the eyelids actually occurs due to the humidity present and how it changes over the course of the day. However, they are not perfectly closed, they are actually ajar, as if it were sleeping, yes, but on the verge of waking up. But the proof of her heritage doesnt exist. MYSTERIESRUNSOLVED & MRU MEDIA, 2019-2022. In the 100 years since her death in 1920, Rosalia has become interwoven with Sicilian lore. The blinking mummys mystery became famous across the world. The mummy is one of the best preserved bodies in the catacombs. Who is wrong? A corridor of mummies inside the catacombs. People were curious to know what was causing the dead body to blink. 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. The story of love, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple generations. Mario and Maria are not married at the time of Rosalia's birth, but they are very much in love. Coming to this conclusion was not difficult for them. 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. Required fields are marked *. We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Top Image: Rosalia Lombardo. Missing Three Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers. 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. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was distraught by her death and asked embalmer Alfredo Salafia to preserve her remains. 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. In fact, a few years ago it was realized that the girl's face was going to meet a normal decay. Geni requires JavaScript! The changing direction of the light through the day makes Rosalias eyes seem to open and close many times. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. But in doing so, she became something larger than life. 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. They are arranged in sections such as religious figures, professions, women, virgins and children. Recommended Visit: So what is legend passed down for the romanticism of love and loss, and what is the truth? One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). What is even more interesting is that upon an X-ray of the mummified corpse, it seems that Rosalinas organs have been perfectly conserved. 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. Husband of Assunta Mananizza Father of Eugenia Lombardo and Rosalinda Lombardo. Catacombe dei Cappuccini | Palermo, Italy, Fact Analysis: 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. 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. X-rays of the body reveal that all of the organs are extremely healthy. Her curly blonde hair and a ribbon on it make her look like she is just sleeping. It was still a mystery until the curator of Capuchin catacombs, Dario Piombino-Mascali, proved a new theory. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The little girl died and her father was extremely upset. His body is not here, it has been buried. 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). Rosalia was an Italian child who died in 1918 in Palermo. . Rosalia Lombardo in her glass coffin. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. Glycerin prevented her body from desiccating or drying out. She lies in the coffin, glass-covered and on a wooden pedestal. A strange phenomenon that scared all tourists visiting the catacombs was that the mummy was blinking. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'historyofyesterday_com-box-3','ezslot_6',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-box-3-0');ummification, even if still practiced to this day in remote cultures, is very rare in the western world. One of the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful mummy is the embalming process that was used to preserve her. We are talking about the body of Rosalia Lombardo, a 2-year-old girl, who has been in the Catacombs for over 100 years, masterfully embalmed, in perfect condition, who also seems to be about to open her eyes and come back to life. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could blame someone. Her grieving father couldn't settle . Rosalia's father Mario Lombardo was devastated by her death and approached Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her. Salicylic acid to stop the growth of fungi Ninety years ago, on December 6, 1920 Rosalia, daughter of Official Mario Lombardo, died of pneumonia at the age of two. 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. How did you succeed in this feat? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. Her body is starting to take on a yellow waxy skin texture. 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. 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 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. The monks agreed and she was one of the last mummies placed in the catacombs. Alfredo also designed an ad hoc coffin for little Rosalia, with a glass lid welded to a wooden crate, so that the body could be preserved for a long time, since there was no contact with light, since in this way no one could touch the 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">. 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. 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. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. 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. But what curiosity are we talking about? Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who passed away of pneumonia. Zinc to petrify the body. Impossible to answer these questions. 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. 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. There he found Salafias surviving records. Notes documenting Rosalias mummification were discovered in the 1970s. The eyes slightly open and reveal the intact blue irises. These cookies do not store any personal information. But why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin Catacombs for so long? 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. STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. [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. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. He has worked on many projects in the past including tzi the Tyrolean Iceman from Italy and the Kabayan Mummies also known as the fire mummies of the Philippines. But even so, there are many who prefer to believe that her spirit really does return to her body! Accordingly, the formulas composition is one part glycerin, one part formalin saturated with both zinc sulfate and chloride, and one part of an alcohol solution saturated with salicylic acid.. 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