What is even more interesting is that upon an X-ray of the mummified corpse, it seems that Rosalinas organs have been perfectly conserved. Rosalia's face has very sweet features, with the plump cheeks of a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair hair. Mario was so devastated by her death that he asked Alfredo Salafia (a well-known Italian pharmacist) to mummify her and keep her as alive as possible (by looking). 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. So what is legend passed down for the romanticism of love and loss, and what is the truth? Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was distraught by her death and asked embalmer Alfredo Salafia to preserve her remains. A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the little girl is just dozing under the glass case of the casket. Catacombe dei Cappuccini | Palermo, Italy, Fact Analysis: However, the work that Alfredo Salaria managed to carry out on the body of little Rosalia is incredible, his most successful work ever, the body considered the most beautiful in the world by scholars and experts in the sector. Curiosities about the body of Rosalia, who seems to be blinking. Her grieving father couldn't settle . 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. Recently, the mummification techniques used by Salafia were discovered in a handwritten memoir of Salafias. It is possible that contact with the air before its replacement may have resulted in damage. Thanks to Salafia's embalming techniques, the body was well-preserved. 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. 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. Rosalias body is now preserved in a new glass coffin, which is designed to block the growth of fungi or bacteria. Mario Lombardo is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. The corpse was preserved nearly perfectly due to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb. 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. Her mummified body, sometimes referred to as 'Sleeping Beauty', was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin . Rosalia Lombardos body is kept in a small chapel at the end of the catacombs tour and is encased in a glass covered coffin, placed on a wooden pedestal. Xolotl the Dog God of the Aztec mythology that guides the dead to the underworld, The Ebers Papyrus: Ancient Egyptian medical text reveals medico-magical beliefs and beneficial treatments. Her young age allowed Salafia to follow a simple mummification process that kept her angel face untouched and undeteriorated for over 100 years. Some researchers, who had the opportunity to study the girl's body, later discovered that it was most likely bronchopneumonia, discarding the other theories instead. The preserved body of Rosalia Lombardo, as photographed by National Geographic in 2009, has started to show indications of decomposition most notably discoloration. While Rosalia was mostly kept intact during embalming, her blood was drained and replaced by the magical formula used by Alfredo. This entry was posted by Caleb Wilde on March 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and is filed under Aggregate Death. 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. It is so amazingly well-maintained that even X-rays show the internal organs to be intact. The typical embalming procedures include the complete removal of organs. 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. Indeed, it is quite difficult to gaze at the little body lying in the glass coffin and still not believe that the girl will awaken at any moment. Rosalias father, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved upon her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. 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. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920) was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Her body is kept in a small chapel placed on a wooden pedestal. 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. 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. Alcohol dries the body But why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin Catacombs for so long? Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. X-rays of the body reveal that all of the organs are extremely healthy. Rosalia meant the world to her family, especially her father who sought to preserve her eternally. Suddenly, however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple. Rosalia Lombardo born on December 13, 1918, was a Sicilian kid that died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920 from the Spanish flu. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. 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. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. 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). The body of little Rosalia has closed eyelids as if she were sleeping. 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. He also sought the embalmers elixir of preservation which has kept her form so perfect even until this day. Thats hard to say. , thanks to the possibility that he was granted access to the anatomical school of Professor Randaccio. Source: Sibeaster / Public Domain. Rosalia Lombardos story reached Professor Salafia, as he never charged his father for his services. [3] 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. Amazingly, 8000 skeletons (although a more accurate number is said to be closer to 2,000) and around 1250 mummies inhabit the catacombs. Why is there an Elephant Buried Beneath the Vatican. 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 father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. He studied and experimented, yes, but in total autonomy. Log In Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. These blue eyes, like the rest of her body, are remarkably intact. 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. People Projects . Alfredo Salafia was considered the best as he had a lot of experience preserving corpses. 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 is one last curiosity concerning Rosalia Lombardo. All of which would have had a unique story to tell. 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. 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. [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. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. One resident was not famous in her short life but became infamous in death. However, once down the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic overlay. His body is not here, it has been buried. 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. The blinking mummys mystery became famous across the world. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. So ajar, they always seem on the verge of opening up, as if there is a hope that that little girl can return to life. 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. Is it better to believe in science or in the irrational? Rosalia Lombardo. 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. The monks agreed and she was one of the last mummies placed in the catacombs. Some said this was her spirit returning to her body. The name of that girl is Rosalia Lombardo, who tragically died due to pneumonia in 1920, at the age of two. The heartbroken father of Rosalia sought the help of an embalmer named Alfredo Salafia to preserve his childs body. 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. These questions arise spontaneously. The formula consisted of formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycerin. This shifting of her body allowed Piombino-Mascali to see her eyelids from a new angle. 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.. 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. Home. Ninety years ago, on December 6, 1920 Rosalia, daughter of Official Mario Lombardo, died of pneumonia at the age of two. We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. 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