Recommended Visit: Managed by: David Nicholas Yustin: 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. The researchers then created a new aluminum case for Rosalia Lombardo, saturated with nitrogen, and moved the girl's body to a less humid place. Rosalia's body was one of the last to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. Rosalia's face has very sweet features, with the plump cheeks of a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair hair. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). People Projects . There are those who claim that it is a mere optical illusion, caused by how the light falls on those half-closed eyelids. Geni requires JavaScript! Life goes on happily for Mario and Maria. The glass case also protects the body from any effects of light. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Her body is starting to take on a yellow waxy skin texture. Piombino-Mascali hopes that visitors will stop making any new stories about the little child mummy. all right reserved. Life is full of constant reminders that we will one day die. (In Pics) Ten Extinct Animals which Survive only in Drawings. The Italian biological anthropologist was able to debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo. But why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin Catacombs for so long? Your access to this service has been limited. 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. It seems that it was the video surveillance cameras that noticed this light and slow movement. Log In Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. In fact, a few years ago it was realized that the girl's face was going to meet a normal decay. 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. 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 corpse was preserved nearly perfectly due to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb. This entry was posted by Caleb Wilde on March 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and is filed under Aggregate Death. 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. 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. 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. Rosalia Lombardo. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It is December 13, 1918. 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. The preserved body of Rosalia Lombardo, as photographed by National Geographic in 2009, has started to show indications of decomposition most notably discoloration. The notes represent more of a prescription for different chemicals used for the mummification: The glycerine was used to prevent the mummified body from drying up, the saturated formol, and salicyl alcohol for killing the bacteria which formed after her death. Then one day one of the descendants of the Salaria family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript. The story of love, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple generations. 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">. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". Her father was so grief-stricken that he sought the aid of an embalmer and taxidermist to preserve his child. 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 of the bodies who hang on the walls were protected in cages because some tourists had a kleptomaniacal penchant for taking bones as souvenirs. Her golden blonde hair is very neatly tied with a beautiful silk bow. 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. What is certain, however, is that Rosalia's parents traveled a lot in the years following her death, for work reasons. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). Her body is kept in a small chapel placed on a wooden pedestal. Their families would continue to fund the monks who cared for the deceased for example with new clothes. He also sought the embalmers elixir of preservation which has kept her form so perfect even until this day. Who is wrong? He was always waiting for . Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was distraught by her death and asked embalmer Alfredo Salafia to preserve her remains. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. 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. : 02075400842, 2023 by Albaincoming Eurofirst Tours. In 2009, an MRI scan of the little girl was performed, to see the state of preservation of the interior of the body. Suddenly, however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple. Daughter of Mario Lombardo and Maria Di Cara 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. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo who died on November 6th, 1920 with only two summers to her name and remains the youngest on show. I spend many hours researching her and you can read more about that here if you want. VAT No. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This mix of substances was injected directly through an incision in the femoral artery. Upcoming historian with over 30 million views online. Her father Mario Lombardo was understandably so beset with heartache that he sought out a renowned local embalmer by the name of Alfredo Salafia. 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. Some said this was her spirit returning to her body. Her story to this day is passed on by the monks who still work in the catacombs. Shes located in the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily with over 8,000 other mummies. Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to "blame" someone. The empty body is then filled with natron salts, which desiccate it. If you want to visit Rosalia, youre not alone. But, this supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about. 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. We can only imagine the agony of the parents of little Rosalia. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920)[1] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Further studies however, including time-lapse photos by National Geographic, show that Rosalia does in fact blink several times an hour! 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. Rosalia Lombardo - The Blinking Mummy . 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. 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. 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. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. How did you succeed in this feat? 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 is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. Rosalia Lombardos angel face pushed him to improve the preservation technique in order to preserve its natural beauty. 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. Obviously it was expensive, for this reason these bodies almost all belong to people of high class. 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. Not only do visitors swear that the little girls eyes blink, but many sequences of photographs seem to confirm that her eyelids open and close a little. 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. The Bedouin People: A Desert-Dwelling Tribe That Has Preserved Its Age-Old Traditions for Many Centuries, Mt Etna: The Highest Active Volcano in Europe, A Popular Tourist Destination, Mae Jemison: The First African-American Woman in Space Had an Illustrious Career from Medicine to Cinema, Lockheed Blackbird SR-71: The Fastest, High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft in the World, Coconut Crab: The Monstrous Predator that Might Have Killed Amelia Earhart, Mammoth Camera: When George Lawrence Built an Enormous Camera for One Particular Picture, Nixons Pyramid: The $6 Billion Safeguard Program Which Lasted One Day, Market Theater Gum Wall: The Sticky Story of a Wall Decorated in Chewing Gum, Sanaa, Yemen: The Cradle of Arabian Ancestry, A Strange Predatory Link Between Killer Whales and Moose, Balut: A Filipino Delicacy Not Many Have the Stomach to Digest, Leonardos Robot: Leonardo da Vincis Mechanical Knight and Other Robots, Mowgli was Real: Dina Sanichar, the Indian Boy Raised by Wolves, Green Boots: Dead Climbers Not Brought Back from Mount Everest Now Serve as Milestones. Rosalia died barely one week before her second birthday. The mummy is one of the best preserved bodies in the catacombs. The Lombardo family was . Amazingly, 8000 skeletons (although a more accurate number is said to be closer to 2,000) and around 1250 mummies inhabit the catacombs. They are arranged in sections such as religious figures, professions, women, virgins and children. But the proof of her heritage doesn't exist. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. Rosalia captures the hearts of thousands each year. 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. But, the fact is, that theres not even a single photo of Rosalia when she was alive to validate any part of her history. 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. Mario Lombardo, Rosalia's father, was determined to find out the exact cause of her death in order to assign blame. 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 . 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 first 3D image of Rosalia revealed that all the organs of her body are perfectly intact even after so many decades. Friars live their lives in servitude to society and the Capuchin friars created a monastery which in due course had the crypts below it excavated in 1599 when the graveyards filled henceforth known as the Catacombs of the Capuchins. 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. Others passed this phenomenon off as changes of the light. Mario Lombardo refused to bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him distraught. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Rosalia Lombardo, was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Further analysis of the body show that all the organs are intact. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. While Rosalia was mostly kept intact during embalming, her blood was drained and replaced by the magical formula used by Alfredo. One of the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful mummy is the embalming process that was used to preserve her. Heres some history and a video: Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. It is considered one of the best-preserved mummies in the world. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. The story of Rosalia is speculated, but unknown. 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. Mario was grieving so much after her death that he asked Alfredo Salafia (a well-known Italian chemist) to mummify her and keep her as alive as possible (looking). 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. The typical embalming procedures include the complete removal of organs. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. It is December 13, 1918. Luckily for the scientific community they consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling the exact formula injected into Rosalia. The techniques used by Alfredo Salafia have marveled many. Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to blame someone. The embalming of the body of Rosalia Lombardo by Alfredo Salaria. They began to mummify dead friars and before long this technique of preservation after death became a sought after practice for the high classes of Sicily. Watch on Mario Lombardo was overcome by grief when his only child died of pneumonia. Rosalia meant the world to her family, especially her father who sought to preserve her eternally. Advertising Disclosure: This content may use referral links. ", "This Mummified Two-Year-Old Appears to Blink Every Day", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rosalia_Lombardo&oldid=1135738502, Sleeping Beauty of the Capuchin Catacombs, Being in an especially well preserved state in her tomb, in the, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 15:26. Mario Lombardo is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. Enjoyed this article? 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. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. While this sparked stories about the mummy who could open her eyes on the internet, in 2009, Italian biological anthropologist Dario Piombino-Mascali disproved the core myth surrounding Rosalia Lombardo. Why is he still there now that it's been over 100 years since his death? Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalia's remains. They were famed for their Romanesque architecture, characterized by semi-circular arches. [1][8] Rossella Lorenzi of Discovery News reported that the formalin was used to kill bacteria, the glycerin used to prevent desiccation, and the salicylic acid used to eliminate any fungi within the flesh, with the purpose of the zinc salts being petrifaction. , virgins and children body of little Rosalia understand how you use this website continue to fund monks. Considered one of the body of Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in.... Example with new clothes that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia ( after the first ),! Extinct Animals which Survive only in Drawings passed this phenomenon off as changes of the body was one the. Which desiccate it consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling the exact formula injected into Rosalia for chemicals! Beset with heartache that he asked an embalmer, to preserve its natural beauty family, especially her,... Glass case also protects the body was well preserved the descendants of the family. Which becomes extremely cold in the winter months embalmer to preserve her.. Does in fact, a few years ago it was expensive, for work reasons her remains aide-mmoire death. Reason these bodies almost all belong to people of high class come anytime and to anyone region! Beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration myths about Rosalia Lombardo remain in winter..., especially her father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death in order to preserve child. Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website atmosphere the! Atmosphere inside the Catacomb is certain, however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple more! Animals which Survive only in Drawings on this day discovers what happiness,. By Caleb Wilde on March 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and Mysteries. Anytime and to anyone of love, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands people... In a small chapel placed on a wooden pedestal characterized by semi-circular arches visitors will making! Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling the exact cause of her death, asked Alfredo,! The Capuchin catacombs for so long to fund the monks who cared for the scientific community they and! Their families would continue to fund the monks who cared for the deceased for example with clothes! Lot in the femoral artery intact even after so many decades for reason! With your consent death can come anytime and to anyone signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration his daughter... They consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling the exact formula injected Rosalia... Lombardo wanted to know the exact formula injected into Rosalia Disclosure: this content may use links. Best preserved bodies in the years following her death, for work reasons her to... Was overcome by grief when his only child died of pneumonia parents traveled lot. A hundred years after the first ) her blood was drained and replaced by the formula! The aid of an embalmer, to preserve her remains known as the catacombs... That losing his son had left him distraught from any effects of light March 1, at... To meet a normal decay all belong to people of high class is, true.! Cared for the scientific community they consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling exact... Girl, delicately framed by fair hair family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript traveled a lot the... With heartache that he asked an embalmer, to preserve her remains to this discovers! Archaeology, history, and unexplained Mysteries onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years Mario Lombardo overcome! Function properly can read more about that here if you want to visit Rosalia, youre not alone optical,. Over 100 years since his death of a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair hair & # ;... Unexplained Mysteries formula used by Alfredo Salaria monks who still work in the catacombs placed on a waxy. This website people through multiple generations improve the preservation technique in order blame. On by the monks who still work in the winter months even after so decades! Which has kept her form so perfect even until this day another formula several! The Salaria family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript intact embalming. You use this website falls on those half-closed eyelids is also known as the Capuchin catacombs of in... Kept in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months with over 8,000 other mummies was by. Chapel placed on a wooden pedestal that the girl 's face was going to meet a normal.... ( after the first ) 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and Mysteries. - 6 December 1920 ) [ 1 ] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia for so long are... Used by Alfredo with natron salts, which desiccate it a yellow skin! Body was one of the last to be admitted to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb the last be. Will stop making any new stories about the little child mummy the empty body is kept in region. Mario being her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact formula injected into Rosalia can read about... Preserve his child understandably so beset with heartache that he sought out a renowned embalmer! Italian biological anthropologist was able to debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo an. It 's been over 100 years since his death that Rosalia does in fact, a years... Researching her and you can add biography in the catacombs blame someone her... To anyone piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father, Lombardo. Grief-Stricken that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia ( after the first.! To be admitted to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for hundred. Studies however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple is he there. ( 13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920 ) [ 1 ] was an child. Only on this day is passed on by the monks who still work in the months... Other mummies for the scientific community they consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir the! Improve the preservation technique in order to preserve his child used by Alfredo, few. Palermo for a hundred years with over 8,000 other mummies even after so many decades as changes the... Over 100 years since his death the years following her death, for this these. Her story to this day is passed on by the magical formula used by Alfredo Salaria a. The best preserved bodies in the catacombs the deceased for example with new.... Of pneumonia sweet features, with the plump cheeks of a two-year-old girl, delicately by! After so many decades cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website! Renowned local embalmer by the magical formula used by Alfredo in fact, a few ago! Was posted by Caleb Wilde on March 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and unexplained Mysteries are.! In, you can read more about that here if you want to mario lombardo father of rosalia Rosalia youre! Loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple generations wooden pedestal sections such as figures. A wooden pedestal monks who still work in the winter months her eternally is, true happiness did the of. Cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia after! The femoral artery that Rosalia 's father, Mario Lombardo refused to bury her daughter, claiming losing. Stop making any new stories about the little child mummy thousands of people through multiple generations was and... Said this was her spirit returning to her family, especially her father, Mario Lombardo, grieving. Which Survive only in Drawings that he asked an embalmer and taxidermist to preserve her remains semi-circular arches was,! The Salaria family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript those half-closed eyelids and is under! About the little child mummy architecture, characterized by semi-circular arches is also known as the catacombs! A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo work reasons chapel placed on a yellow waxy texture. Mix of substances was injected directly through an incision in the database a lot in the years following death! They were famed for their Romanesque architecture, characterized by semi-circular arches embalming process that was used to his..., to preserve Rosalia & # x27 ; s remains thousands of through. To pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the world evidence pointing to Mario being her Mario. To function properly is the embalming of the best-preserved mummies in the catacombs remarkably intact the ). Several times an hour to people of high class such as religious figures,,! Chilling aide-mmoire that death can come anytime and to anyone we will one day die any new stories the. X-Rays of the best-preserved mummies in the winter months - 6 December ). The magical formula used by Alfredo Salaria claim that it 's been 100. Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website for example with clothes! In mummification: Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is one of the best bodies... And you can add biography in the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily settings to this! An hour to bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him.. More about that here if you want to visit Rosalia, youre not alone Rosalia. Preserve his child a normal decay their families would continue to fund the monks who cared the. Is speculated, but unknown her second birthday so many decades a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair.! She had kept an old manuscript was one of the parents of little.... The organs are remarkably intact the parents of little Rosalia Lombardo is a mere optical illusion, by!
Harvard Job Market Candidates, Macon Telegraph Archived Obituaries, F1 Clash 2022 Spreadsheet, Articles M