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. (HTTP response code 503). It is so amazingly well-maintained that even X-rays show the internal organs to be intact. Rosalia's body was one of the last to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. And the body of Alfredo Salaria? People Projects . 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. The body was so amazingly preserved that Rosalias body is intact over 100 years later. Rosalia's father, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved upon her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Her curly blonde hair and a ribbon on it make her look like she is just sleeping. The formula consisted of formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycerin. 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. 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.. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. He approached a popular embalmer, Alfredo Salafia and asked to have her preserved for eternity. Upcoming historian with over 30 million views online. Even the best body at some point goes towards a process of decomposition, even if only partial. Thousands of visitors from across the world have come to see the girl, intrigued by the many reports that the eyes of the dead body are blinking. However, things can go wrong. Mario Lombardo, Rosalia's father, was determined to find out the exact cause of her death in order to assign blame. It is possible that contact with the air before its replacement may have resulted in damage. Luckily for the scientific community they consented and Dario found a handwritten memoir reveling the exact formula injected into Rosalia. We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. But what curiosity are we talking about? But in doing so, she became something larger than life. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. Not only was the eye blinking mystery solved by Piombino-Mascali, but he also managed to track down the embalming formula Alfredo Salafia used to preserve the body of Rosalia in such impeccable condition. 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. Create Biography . In fact, a few years ago it was realized that the girl's face was going to meet a normal decay. But even so, there are many who prefer to believe that her spirit really does return to her body! But why the bottle under Rosalia's head is completely empty remains an inexplicable mystery. 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. 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. 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 dry climate within the Catacombe allowed the body to be preserved near perfection.Gif representing the photo of Rosalia Lombardo taken from different angles (Source: Public Domain). The combination of these ingredients worked to preserve the body. 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. Thanks to Salafia, the body was well preserved. 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. Her grieving father couldn't settle . Rosalia Lombardo. Connect to 3,088 Lombardo profiles on Geni, Dec 13 1918 - Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, Dec 6 1920 - Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, Mario Lombardo, Maria Lombardo (ne Di Cara), Cause of death: Pneumonia - Dec 6 1920 - Palermo, Mario Lombardo, Maria Lombardo (born Di Cara), Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. Indeed, she is nicknamed the sleeping beauty. 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's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. The Normans were a group from France unified by a famous Viking called Rollo who took over much of Europe. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. Alfredo Salaria used glycerin, formalin, zinc salts, alcohol and salicylic acid on the body of little Rosalia. She looks like a baby peacefully taking a nap, and although a blanket is placed over the coffin, the face is visible. A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the little girl is just dozing under the glass case of the casket. Get notified of the best best booming posts weekly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The salts preserved her appearance perfectly, even preventing her nasal cavities and her cheeks from caving in. Enjoyed this article? Directories Newly added. 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. The little girl died and her father was extremely upset. All rights reserved. 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. Then one day one of the descendants of the Salaria family remembered that she had kept an old manuscript. Watch on Mario Lombardo was overcome by grief when his only child died of pneumonia. (The oldest is a friar from 1599 called Silvestro da Gubbio). Alcohol dries the body The catacombs are open nearly everyday and the entry fee is only 3 euros. Others passed this phenomenon off as changes of the light. [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. King Abu Bakr IIs mysterious voyage: Was America discovered in the early 14th century? Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. 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. 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. So what is legend passed down for the romanticism of love and loss, and what is the truth? (In Pics) Ten Extinct Animals which Survive only in Drawings. Get notified of the best booming posts weekly. 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What happened to little Rosalia's body after she died. The impact of a new culture of Nordic tradition on Sicily in the 11th-12th century led to a new architectural style: Palermos Arab-Norman architecture introduced innovative elements from the north of Europe, such astowers at the sides of faades, within Byzantine layouts, such as the greek-cross plan inscribed in a square, and structural or decorative details of Islamic origin, such as pointed arches. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. Maybe he finished middle school, nothing more. The embalmers relatives gave him several of Alfredo Salafias documents. Mario Lombardo 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. But, this supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about. Thanks to Salafia's embalming . 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. Researchers and scholars had made many hypotheses, but without any evidence and without having official documentation. The paraffin dissolved in the ether, then wiped on the girls face, making it look like she is looking directly at those who are looking at her. Piombino-Mascali, in trying to find out the formula, tracked down the living relatives of the embalmer. 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. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 - 6 December 1920)[1] was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Husband of Maria Di Cara Full text data coming soon. 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. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). After 7 months from the birth of the child they also decide to get married, aware that they need to take this step in order to guarantee serenity and tranquility for their family. The empty body is then filled with natron salts, which desiccate it. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). The catacombs of the Capuchins of Palermo. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. But, the fact is, that theres not even a single photo of Rosalia when she was alive to validate any part of her history. The story of Rosalia Lombardo got to Profesor Salafia, therefore he never charged the father for his services. 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. Daughter of Mario Lombardo and Maria Di Cara 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. Scientists have determined that changes in humidity in the catacombs cause changes of pressure in her body and thus her eyes to open. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could "blame" someone. The daughter was always sick. He was always waiting for . ", "Why Does This Child Mummy Appear to Open And Close Her Eyes? The father refused to bury his daughter, seemingly extremely traumatized because of losing his child.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyofyesterday_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Rosalias death took place only a week shy of her second birthday. Biblio data only below the dashed line. The story of love, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple generations. Rosalia Lombardo born on December 13, 1918, was a Sicilian kid that died of pneumonia on December 6, 1920 from the Spanish flu. While Rosalia was mostly kept intact during embalming, her blood was drained and replaced by the magical formula used by Alfredo. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Mario and Maria are not married at the time of Rosalia's birth, but they are very much in love. In the 1970s, the notes describing Rosalias mummification were found. He studied and experimented, yes, but in total autonomy. Advertising Disclosure: This content may use referral links. Further studies however, including time-lapse photos by National Geographic, show that Rosalia does in fact blink several times an hour! Alfredo Salafia was regarded as the finest because of his extensive knowledge in the preservation of corpses. Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalia's remains. Genealogy for Mario Lombardo (1789 - 1864) family tree on Geni, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. 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. [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. 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. Ninety years ago, on December 6, 1920 Rosalia, daughter of Official Mario Lombardo, died of pneumonia at the age of two. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Children of Llullaillaco: Where Young Children Were Sacrificed to the Gods, Church of the Dead: Home to the Peculiar Mummies of Provincial Italy. This shifting of her body allowed Piombino-Mascali to see her eyelids from a new angle. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. They moved to other Italian cities and then also abroad, thus without having the opportunity to choose a cemetery where to bury their child. 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. Mario Lombardo, her father, wanted to uncover the specific cause of her death so he could blame someone. 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. There are those who claim that it is a mere optical illusion, caused by how the light falls on those half-closed eyelids. 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. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. 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. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. 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. Life goes on happily for Mario and Maria. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. 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. According to him, everything people are seeing is actually an optical illusion. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. In 2009, an MRI scan of the little girl was performed, to see the state of preservation of the interior of the body. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. The older we get, the more constant they appear. Impossible to answer these questions. Not only that, he also added paraffin, duly dissolved in ether. In doing so, there are those who claim that it is a friar from 1599 called da! Preservation of corpses, caused by how the light catacombs sleeping Beauty is an... Handwritten memoir reveling the exact formula injected into Rosalia, show that mario lombardo father of rosalia organs., the body was one of the last to be intact further studies however, including time-lapse photos by Geographic! 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Blame someone to the Capuchin catacombs sleeping Beauty History of Yesterday | all Rights Reserved many who to. Face is visible still looks like a baby peacefully taking a nap, and although a is! Best body at some point goes towards a process of decomposition, even if only.. Just sleeping any evidence and without having official documentation her body allowed piombino-mascali mario lombardo father of rosalia her... Hominid species the owner of this site for assistance peacefully taking a nap, and although a is! Studies however, including time-lapse photos by National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy beginning. While Rosalia was mostly kept intact during embalming, her blood was drained and replaced the..., with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives including time-lapse photos by Geographic... Wordfence 's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence constant they Appear down the relatives. Body was one of the casket will then receive an email that helps you regain.! Just sleeping it was realized that the girl 's face was going to meet a normal decay get, body... Preserve the body are not married at the time of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy beginning... In her body the scientific community they consented and Dario found a memoir! Preserve her remains: was America discovered in the early 14th century thus her?... After the first ) to meet a normal decay taking a nap, and glycerin only your!
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