Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. 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. 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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Scientists have determined that changes in humidity in the catacombs cause changes of pressure in her body and thus her eyes to open. A corridor of mummies inside the catacombs. Piombino-Mascali hopes that visitors will stop making any new stories about the little child mummy. The typical embalming procedures include the complete removal of organs. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Rosalia Lombardo born on December 13, 1918, was a Sicilian kid that died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920 from the Spanish flu. Most visitors to her mummified remains say she is a miracle because she blinks even though she has been dead for a long time. However, once down the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic overlay. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who passed away of pneumonia. Salafia recorded the chemicals he injected into Rosalias body: formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycerin., Formalin (formaldehyde and water) eliminates bacteria Mario Lombardo refused to bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him distraught. Your email address will not be published. In 1933 when the Sicilian embalmer passed away, he wrote down the secret formula of the preservation. Alfredo Salafia was regarded as the finest because of his extensive knowledge in the preservation of corpses. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years. Researchers and scholars had made many hypotheses, but without any evidence and without having official documentation. Rosalia Lombardo, was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. 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. 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. For after all, the dead have no need for grand decorations in this realm they leave behind. This mystery of blinking eyes, and the well-preserved body is what makes Rosalias mummy so fascinating. A strange phenomenon that scared all tourists visiting the catacombs was that the mummy was blinking. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to blame someone. Her father Mario Lombardo, who was an local official, engaged noted embalmer, Alfredo Salafia to mummify her body. 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. In the 1970s, the notes describing Rosalias mummification were found. 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. 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. 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. 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. The problem at the time, was that no one knew how Rosalia had been preserved. Full text data coming soon. Her body was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. Thanks to Salafias embalming techniques, the body was well preserved. 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. (HTTP response code 503). Suddenly, however, fate plays a mocking trick on the couple. 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. Mario Lombardo, Rosalia's father, was determined to find out the exact cause of her death in order to assign blame. 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. The formalin wiped out all the bacteria, and the salicylic acid helped in removing any fungi present in the flesh. The story of Rosalia is speculated, but unknown. Alfredo Salaria used glycerin, formalin, zinc salts, alcohol and salicylic acid on the body of little Rosalia. Thanks to Salafia, the body was well preserved. Piombino-Mascali, in trying to find out the formula, tracked down the living relatives of the embalmer. 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. Husband of Maria Di Cara Some said this was her spirit returning to her body. 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. all right reserved. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. 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">. Curiosities about the body of Rosalia, who seems to be blinking. Her curly blonde hair and a ribbon on it make her look like she is just sleeping. He was always waiting for . 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. Obviously it was expensive, for this reason these bodies almost all belong to people of high class. 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. 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. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. Missing Three Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers. Some photographs taken in sequence, at intervals of about one minute, also offered a similar testimony. Coming to this conclusion was not difficult for them. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920)[1] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Rosalia Lombardo. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. Glycerin keeping the body from becoming too dry (The oldest is a friar from 1599 called Silvestro da Gubbio). Required fields are marked *. 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. It also appears that over the years, perhaps the 1960s or 1970s, the glass in the coffin broke. Mario, her father, approached Alfredo Salafia, embalmer and taxidermist, to preserve her. It is December 13, 1918. Rosalia is surrounded by many other bodies, over 8000, who sleep their eternal sleep in the Catacombs of the Capuchins. The techniques used by Alfredo Salafia have marveled many. Your access to this service has been limited. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. Perhaps the period close to the feast of the dead is precisely the most suitable! Log In Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. 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. 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. Recently, the mummification techniques used by Salafia were discovered in a handwritten memoir of Salafias. The eyes are half closed, so that the face can appear even more relaxed and sweet, an intense serenity. Read our disclosure policy for more info. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 6 December 1920)[1] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. 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 Lombardo family was from Italy and even if the Spanish flu pandemic was coming to an end, it seems that the girl's pneumonia was caused by this deadly virus. 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. 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. VAT No. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. The latter was a Sicilian little girl born in 1918 and dead in 1920 of pneumonia, at just two years. The catacombs are open nearly everyday and the entry fee is only 3 euros. 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 catacombs of the Capuchins of Palermo. All the other bodies present were in fact emptied of their internal organs and then left to rest for about a year. Get notified of the best best booming posts weekly. Life is full of constant reminders that we will one day die. ( December 13, 1918 - 6 December 1920 ) [ 1 ] was an child. In humidity in the coffin broke Us | DMCA Notice, this website uses cookies to your. Relatives of the best best booming posts weekly said this was her spirit returning to her was! 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