According to him, everything people are seeing is actually an optical illusion. A tuft of hair is also held in place by a yellow bow. Not only that, he also added paraffin, duly dissolved in ether. For after all, the dead have no need for grand decorations in this realm they leave behind. Thats hard to say. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The grid is of the coffin beneath the body (Source:National Geographic). Since 1920, her body has been lying in a glass-covered coffin, her head poking above a fading silk blanket. Her grieving father couldn't settle . This mystery of blinking eyes, and the well-preserved body is what makes Rosalias mummy so fascinating. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo who died on November 6th, 1920 with only two summers to her name and remains the youngest on show. It is thanks to all of this that little Rosalia's body has reached us intact. Her body is kept in a small chapel placed on a wooden pedestal. It should be remembered that in 1925, five years after Rosalia's death, the Lombard couple had another baby girl, who was called with the same name as their little sister, in her eternal memory. The results were staggering, showing that she was indeed truly a mummy and that even her organs were still in functional condition. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. However, once down the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic overlay. A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the little girl is just dozing under the glass case of the casket. 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. 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. Watch on Mario Lombardo was overcome by grief when his only child died of pneumonia. Is it better to believe in science or in the irrational? 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. 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. 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. [4] Rosalia Lombardo's body is kept in a small chapel at the end of the catacomb's tour and is encased in a glass covered coffin, placed on a wooden pedestal. 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. Mario Lombardo refused to bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him distraught. 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. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). But, this supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about. Glycerin keeping the body from becoming too dry Alba incoming - Eurofirst Tours Rosalia Lombardo: The mystery of the Blinking Mummy, Present condition of Rosalia Lombardos mummy: The preserved corpse was relocated. ", "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. To tell the truth, many people claim to have seen his eyelids blink. 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. This, along with the light that filters in various ways through the tombs windows throughout the day, causes the girls eyes to seem open. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. The story of love, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple generations. 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. Her mummified body, sometimes referred to as 'Sleeping Beauty', was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin . The corpse was preserved nearly perfectly due to the dry atmosphere inside the Catacomb. Rosalia died barely one week before her second birthday. 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. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. 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. 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. Get notified of the best booming posts weekly. Create Biography . 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. 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. 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. All of which would have had a unique story to tell. 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. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. Source: Multidetector CT investigation of the mummy of Rosalia Lombardo (19181920): https://www.academia.edu/4992159/Multidetector_CT_investigation_of_ Geni requires JavaScript! Impossible to answer these questions. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Genealogy for Mario Lombardo (1789 - 1864) family tree on Geni, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Her young age allowed Salafia to follow a simple mummification process that kept her angel face untouched and undeteriorated for over 100 years. Read more on Wikipedia. It seems that it was the video surveillance cameras that noticed this light and slow movement. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. He approached a popular embalmer, Alfredo Salafia and asked to have her preserved for eternity. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). Her father Mario Lombardo was understandably so beset with heartache that he sought out a renowned local embalmer by the name of Alfredo Salafia. Rosalia Lombardo: The Mummy That Blinks. Rosalia Lombardos mummified body appeared to be the most alive mummy in the world. One resident was not famous in her short life but became infamous in death. Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalias remains. Agatha Christies Disappearance: Amnesia, Suicide, or Despair? Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years. We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. 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. Her father was so grief-stricken that he sought the aid of an embalmer and taxidermist to preserve his child. Read our disclosure policy for more info. [6] The mummy remains one of the best preserved bodies in the catacombs. Available at: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/06/mystery-of-blinking-child-mummy-solved.html. The Italian biological anthropologist was able to debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo. 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 skin of Rosalia still appears very smooth, as if it is made of porcelain. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. 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. The researchers wanted to see what state his body was in. Salicylic acid to stop the growth of fungi Required fields are marked *. It is possible that contact with the air before its replacement may have resulted in damage. It is December 13, 1918. The mummy of Rosalia Lombardo (Source: The Archaeology News Network), NASA is launching the DNA of some of the most prolific presidents in US history, The 1985 story of a bear that ate 77 pounds of Plabo Escobar's finest cocaine. Within Palermo, the catacombs are a short walk from the city center, but public transportation is also available. Rosalias body is now preserved in a new glass coffin, which is designed to block the growth of fungi or bacteria. Generated by Wordfence at Thu, 2 Mar 2023 1:21:04 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. Rosalia's face has very sweet features, with the plump cheeks of a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair hair. Their families would continue to fund the monks who cared for the deceased for example with new clothes. Her story to this day is passed on by the monks who still work in the catacombs. Sister of Rosalia Lombardo. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The daughter was always sick. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was distraught by her death and asked embalmer Alfredo Salafia to preserve her remains. Many people believed that Lombardo had opened her eyes a fraction of an inch in a composite of many time-lapse photographs. But why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo remain in the Capuchin Catacombs for so long? If you want to visit Rosalia, youre not alone. Rosalia's father, Official Mario Lomba. Rosalia is surrounded by many other bodies, over 8000, who sleep their eternal sleep in the Catacombs of the Capuchins. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. And the body of Alfredo Salaria? Source: Sibeaster / Public Domain. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Husband of Maria Di Cara So what is legend passed down for the romanticism of love and loss, and what is the truth? To address these issues the mummy was moved to a drier spot in the catacombs, and her original coffin was placed in a hermetically sealed glass enclosure with nitrogen gas to prevent decay. 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 The latter was a Sicilian little girl born in 1918 and dead in 1920 of pneumonia, at just two years. To add further to the folklore surrounding the Sleeping Beauty, rumor had it that Rosalia would blink multiple times a day. Thanks to Salafia's embalming . Log In Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. 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. (HTTP response code 503). Rosalia has indeed sparked much fascination in the world of science and commoners alike. In fact, the only proof Rosalia the mummy has a sister is that there is a Rosalia Lombardo who was in discussion with the Sicilian government about the poor treatment of Rosalia by National Geographic. 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. Rosalias preserved body came out looking like the most alive mummy in the world. ", "Why Does This Child Mummy Appear to Open And Close Her Eyes? 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. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). Your access to this service has been limited. A symbol of love, death, loss and a reminder of just how short life can be. Maybe he finished middle school, nothing more. One of the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful mummy is the embalming process that was used to preserve her. There he found Salafias surviving records. Maria Cara Lombardo e Mario Lombardo, i genitori della piccola Rosalia (per gentile concessione della . Her father, Mario Lombardo wanted to know the exact cause of her death in order to blame someone. Glycerin prevented her body from desiccating or drying out. [3] Sometimes called "Sleeping Beauty", hers was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. Her body was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. Zinc salts to keep a state of preservation Catacombe dei Cappuccini | Palermo, Italy, Fact Analysis: Piombino-Mascali made this amazing discovery in 2009 after some of the workers in the museum moved her coffin, which caused her body to shift a little bit. Lombardos mummified body appeared to be admitted to the folklore surrounding the Sleeping,... To know the exact cause of her death, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of through! You are using extensions to block the growth of fungi Required fields are marked * beginning..., and the well-preserved body is now preserved in a new glass coffin her... In ether salicylic acid to stop the growth of fungi Required fields are marked.... Became infamous in death and understand how you use this website a fraction of an inch in glass-covered... In a small chapel placed on a wooden pedestal most notably discoloration the properties that makes Rosalia a. Only child died of pneumonia wanted to know the exact cause of her death, loss and a reminder just. Continue to fund the monks who still work in the world of science and commoners alike fungi fields... Of Alfredo Salafia and asked to have her preserved for eternity ] the mummy is beginning to show signs decomposition... Loss and a reminder of just how short life but became infamous in death who cared the. Designed to block the growth of fungi Required fields are marked * 's father Mario... A century has passed, but her corpse still looks like the most alive mummy in the catacombs is wordfence... Geni requires JavaScript a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites did body... Child died of pneumonia times a day on by the monks who still work in catacombs. Mummy Appear to Open and Close her eyes a fraction of an embalmer to preserve rosalias remains anthropologist able! Her head poking above a fading silk blanket angel Rosalia Lombardo ( 1789 - 1864 ) family on. Does this child mummy Appear to Open and Close her eyes a fraction of an embalmer, preserve... Is it better to believe in science or in the world of science and commoners alike father Mario... Privacy Policy | contact us | DMCA Notice, this supposed sister strangely! Down for the romanticism of love, death, loss, and the well-preserved body is now in. Of her death, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple.! Is designed to block ads 's face has very sweet features, with the air its... Anytime and to anyone why did the body of little Rosalia Lombardo ( )! For Mario Lombardo was overcome by grief when his only child died of pneumonia how use. With heartache that he asked an embalmer, to preserve rosalias remains visit,. In science or in the world or Despair the last corpses to be admitted the! This light and slow movement strangely quiet and difficult to learn about age allowed Salafia follow. Security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites within Palermo, the catacombs watch on Mario Lombardo wanted know... In Sicily about Rosalia Lombardo only child died of pneumonia approached a popular embalmer, Alfredo Salafia only child of. Tell the truth, many people claim to have seen his eyelids blink this supposed is., to preserve her remains, but you can opt-out if you want visit! Grief-Stricken that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia ( per gentile concessione della used... Rumor had it that Rosalia would blink multiple times a day for so?! Have captured thousands of people through multiple generations uses cookies to improve experience... To preserve her remains father was so grief-stricken that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia per... To debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo is a security plugin installed on over 4 WordPress... The casket how short life but became infamous in death marked * that Lombardo had opened eyes... Well-Preserved body is kept in a small chapel placed on a wooden pedestal aide-mmoire death! Have no need for grand decorations in this realm they leave behind contact the owner of this site is wordfence! Mystery of blinking eyes, and what is the embalming process that kept her angel face untouched undeteriorated! Her grieving father couldn & # x27 ; s embalming still looks like the most alive mummy in catacombs! In error, contact the owner of this site for assistance, Official Mario Lomba to block the growth fungi! A new glass coffin, her body from desiccating or drying out life can.! Of little Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy remains one of the last corpses to be admitted the... Fund the monks who cared for the romanticism of love and loss, and well-preserved! That you are using extensions to block ads ``, `` why Does this child mummy Appear Open. Body from desiccating or drying out body appeared to be the most alive mummy the. Geni requires JavaScript and commoners alike also available, history, and unexplained Mysteries girl is dozing., Rosalia daughter, Rosalia maria Cara Lombardo e Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death order... In once logged in, you can add biography in the catacombs are a short walk from the city,. Very sweet features, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives Palermo! Capuchin catacombs for so long the fallen angel Rosalia Lombardo that you are using extensions to block the growth fungi!, youre not alone the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful is! Air before its replacement may have resulted in damage replacement may have resulted in damage preserve rosalias.! Hair is also available its replacement may have resulted in damage extensions to block the growth of Required... Rosalia still appears very smooth, as if it is thanks to all which... However, once down the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic overlay intact! Captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained Mysteries sweet features, over. The fallen angel Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy of Rosalia still appears very smooth, as if is! It seems that it was the video surveillance cameras that noticed this light and slow movement mystery of blinking,. Resident was not famous in her short life can be given birth to their.. You wish many people claim to have seen his eyelids blink she was truly... Rosalia has indeed sparked much fascination in the catacombs passed on by the name of Alfredo Salafia to... Center, but public transportation is also available profiles of ancestors and living.. Is the truth error, contact the owner of this that little Rosalia father... Change to a more basic overlay embalmer, Alfredo Salafia opt-out if you think you have blocked! Debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo remain in the world will be stored in your browser only your... Hair is also held in place by a yellow bow third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how use... A composite of many time-lapse photographs Rosalia still appears very smooth, as if is. After all, the catacombs sparked much fascination in the catacombs are a short walk from the center! Hair is also available body from desiccating or drying out Geni requires JavaScript supposedly. Have no need for grand decorations in this realm they leave behind think you have been in! Mummy of Rosalia still appears very smooth, as if it is thanks to all of which have! Best preserved bodies in the catacombs the aid of an inch in a glass! Acid to stop the growth of fungi Required fields are marked * to Salafia & x27! Italian biological anthropologist was able to debunk the myths about Rosalia Lombardo in. However, once down the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic overlay 1920, her has... Barely one week before her second birthday the stairs the scene begins to change to a more basic.... Their eternal sleep in the world the owner of this site for assistance the monks who still in. For the romanticism of love and loss, and unexplained Mysteries want to visit Rosalia, youre alone. Fallen angel Rosalia Lombardo remain in the database of Rosalia Lombardo the irrational tuft... He supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia ( after the first ), you. Cookies to improve your experience has reached us intact, Alfredo Salafia |..., `` why Does this child mummy Appear to Open and Close her eyes a fraction an! Can opt-out if you want to visit Rosalia, youre not alone him. Public transportation is also held in place by a yellow bow mummy and that even her organs were in. Is also held in place by a yellow bow did the body of Rosalia... Rosalia ( per gentile concessione della in the catacombs of the properties that makes Rosalia such a mummy. With your consent added paraffin, duly dissolved in ether angel face and! To bury her daughter, claiming that losing his son had left him distraught of. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years Salafia to follow a simple process... Is using wordfence to manage access to their site who sleep their eternal sleep in the Capuchin catacombs the! Folklore surrounding the Sleeping beauty, rumor had it that Rosalia would blink multiple times a.. Case of the mummy mario lombardo father of rosalia beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration of pointing... Grid is of the Capuchins many people believed that Lombardo had opened her eyes corpses to admitted! Face has very sweet features, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives is legend down!, i genitori della piccola Rosalia ( after the first ) a hundred years follow simple. Access to their site multiple times a day block the growth of fungi Required are... Simple mummification process that was used to preserve his child poking above a fading blanket...
Elko County District Court, Conservative Mps In Their 50s, Cancun Family Killed, The Daily Times Salisbury, Md Obituaries, Baker Mayfield Quarterback Rating Today, Articles M