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. Rosalia's face has very sweet features, with the plump cheeks of a two-year-old girl, delicately framed by fair hair. In the 100 years since her death in 1920, Rosalia has become interwoven with Sicilian lore. Indeed, she is nicknamed the sleeping beauty. 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. He made a small puncture and injected a mixture of zinc salts, formalin, glycerin, and salicylic acid. ", "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. Rosalia's dad, Official Mario Lombardo, was sorely grieved after her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. And the body of Alfredo Salaria? [3] It is considered one of the best-preserved mummies in the world. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who passed away of pneumonia. Rosalia died due to pneumonia in a region which becomes extremely cold in the winter months. There is one last curiosity concerning Rosalia Lombardo. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. Her father was so grief-stricken that he sought the aid of an embalmer and taxidermist to preserve his child. [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. 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. 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. One piece of evidence pointing to Mario being her father is that he supposedly named his second daughter Rosalia (after the first). 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. Her name is Rosalia Lombardo who died on November 6th, 1920 with only two summers to her name and remains the youngest on show. The eyes slightly open and reveal the intact blue irises. 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. 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 is an infantry officer who only on this day discovers what happiness is, true happiness. However, things can go wrong. Many of these ingredients are commonly used today, but the shining star of this concoction is the zinc salts which essentially petrified her body. 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. [7] The embalming formula is described as "one part glycerin, one part formalin saturated with zinc sulfate and zinc chloride, and one part of an alcohol solution saturated with salicylic acid", and was entered into the body through a single-point injection, most likely into the femoral artery via a gravity injector. Rosalia Lombardos mummified body appeared to be the most alive mummy in the world. Salicylic acid to stop the growth of fungi [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. There are those who claim that it is a mere optical illusion, caused by how the light falls on those half-closed eyelids. 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). 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. The catacombs are open nearly everyday and the entry fee is only 3 euros. 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. 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. Why is there an Elephant Buried Beneath the Vatican. [7], "Multidetector CT investigation of the mummy of Rosalia Lombardo (19181920)", "In the Catacombs of the Capuchin Monastery in Palermo", "Why Does This Mummy Appear To Open And Close Her Eyes? The mummy is still one of the tombs finest preserved corpses. When reports of Rosalia Lombardos eyes opening shocked the local community an Anthropologist called Dario Piombino-Mascali investigated the catacombs. People were curious to know what was causing the dead body to blink. 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. Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 in Palermo, Italy - December 6, 1920), was an Italian child who died of pneumonia. Maria di Cara, his partner, has in fact just given birth to their first daughter, Rosalia. 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. Why is he still there now that it's been over 100 years since his death? On December 6, 1920, a few days after her second birthday, Rosalia died. Missing Three Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers. COPYRIGHT UNSOLVED MYSTERIES & PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES, 2017-2018. But the proof of her heritage doesn't exist. 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. Later it became part of the Roman and Arab Empires before unifying with the modern-day Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Rosalia died barely one week before her second birthday. Even if the little girl's body has not found a worthy burial, the choice to embalm her so as to be able to give her eternal rest and to give her name to her little sister are the clear sign of how much Rosalia was loved. Rosalia, an Italian child born on December 13 in the year 1918, died due to pneumonia as a result of the Spanish flu less than two years later, on December 6, 1920. 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.. She now attracts thousands of visitors to the Capuchin Catacombs in Sicily where she lays forever encased in glass. Via Panepinto 8 I-92022 Cammarata (Ag) Italy 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. 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. 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. According to him, everything people are seeing is actually an optical illusion. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Directories Newly added. 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. The blinking mummys mystery became famous across the world. 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. Father of Rosalia Lombardo and Rosalia Lombardo. Rosalia meant the world to her family, especially her father who sought to preserve her eternally. 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 anthropologist then realized that her eyes were actually never closed, and it had only been a trick of the light that made them seem so. Palermo is a city with amazing architecture which much of its designs remaining from the Norman and Arab invasions. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. Your email address will not be published. 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. Rosalias preserved body came out looking like the most alive mummy in the world. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Its stunning streets and crossroads run to the Capuchin Monastery, another building of fine intricate beauty. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. In 1933 when the Sicilian embalmer passed away, he wrote down the secret formula of the preservation. all right reserved COOKIES & PRIVACY POLICY, 2023 by Albaincoming Eurofirst Tours. Rosalia's father, Official Mario Lomba. Read more on Wikipedia. [3] Sometimes called "Sleeping Beauty", hers was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo in Sicily. Alfredo Salafia was considered the best as he had a lot of experience preserving corpses. It is thanks to all of this that little Rosalia's body has reached us intact. Rosalias gaze is something that has attracted onlookers to Palermo for a hundred years. Rosalia Lombardos angel face pushed him to improve the preservation technique in order to preserve its natural beauty. They are arranged in sections such as religious figures, professions, women, virgins and children. Maria Cara Lombardo e Mario Lombardo, i genitori della piccola Rosalia (per gentile concessione della Famiglia Lombardo) . But, this supposed sister is strangely quiet and difficult to learn about. Her father, Mario Lombardo, was so grief stricken that he asked an embalmer to preserve Rosalias remains. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". The embalmers relatives gave him several of Alfredo Salafias documents. Then, later in 2009 Dario Piombino-Mascali, a biological anthropologist sought out Alfredos living descendants and asked to go through his things for clues as to the formula. The grid is of the coffin beneath the body (Source:National Geographic). Agatha Christies Disappearance: Amnesia, Suicide, or Despair? Rosalias dead body has caught the attention of everyone, as people have noticed her eyelids move many times, seeming like she is blinking. A 2009 National Geographic photograph of Rosalia Lombardo shows the mummy is beginning to show signs of decomposition, most notably discoloration. The changing direction of the light through the day makes Rosalias eyes seem to open and close many times. The Normans were a group from France unified by a famous Viking called Rollo who took over much of Europe. On the historical island of Sicily sits the Sicilian capital of Palermo, resting on the toe of Italys boot-based geographical shape. Her grieving father couldn't settle . Connect to 3,088 Lombardo profiles on Geni, Antonino Lombardo, Lombardo (ne Lombardo (Ne Corrao)), Maria Italia Lombardo, Antonino Lombardo, Lombardo, Lombardo, Lombardo, Antonino Lombardo, Rosalia Lombardo (ne Corrao), pe Dit Armando Lombardo, Concetta Pancano (ne Lombardo), Maria Italia Aiello (ne Lombardo), Antonino Lombardo, Alfredo Dit Adolfo Lombardo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. This entry was posted by Caleb Wilde on March 1, 2015 at 9:18 pm, and is filed under Aggregate Death. Further analysis of the body show that all the organs are intact. For years the mix of chemicals that Alfredo Salaria used on Rosalia remained unknown, as well as the technique used. Avid Writer with invaluable knowledge of Humanity! Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. 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">. He also sought the embalmers elixir of preservation which has kept her form so perfect even until this day. Some said this was her spirit returning to her body. The latter was a Sicilian little girl born in 1918 and dead in 1920 of pneumonia, at just two years. The formula consisted of formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycerin. X-rays of the body reveal that all of the organs are extremely healthy. 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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. Rosalia was born on December 13, 1918 and died on December 6, 1920 of pneumonia. One of the properties that makes Rosalia such a beautiful mummy is the embalming process that was used to preserve her. 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. X-rays of the body show that all the organs are remarkably intact. [9] In response to speculation about her moving eyelids, Piombino-Mascali stated that "It's an optical illusion produced by the light that filters through the side windows, which during the day is subject to change [her eyes] are not completely closed, and indeed they have never been". 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. 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. King Abu Bakr IIs mysterious voyage: Was America discovered in the early 14th century? We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Remains of Dead US Presidents Will Be Sent Into Space, The Man Who Surgically Brought Back Unicorns. Rosalia captures the hearts of thousands each year. Glycerin prevented her body from desiccating or drying out. The zinc sulfate was used to petrify the body. Maybe he finished middle school, nothing more. Managed by: David Nicholas Yustin: All rights reserved. (Sibeaster / Wikimedia Commons). 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 first 3D image of Rosalia revealed that all the organs of her body are perfectly intact even after so many decades. This, along with the light that filters in various ways through the tombs windows throughout the day, causes the girls eyes to seem open. Rosalia Lombardo: The mystery of the Blinking Mummy, Present condition of Rosalia Lombardos mummy: The preserved corpse was relocated. Rosalia's father, Mario Lombardo, was grieving her death, asked Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to preserve her remains. The results were staggering, showing that she was indeed truly a mummy and that even her organs were still in functional condition. It also appears that over the years, perhaps the 1960s or 1970s, the glass in the coffin broke. Thanks to Salafias embalming techniques, the body was well preserved. But the proof of her heritage doesnt exist. Researchers and scholars had made many hypotheses, but without any evidence and without having official documentation. The body was beautifully preserved thanks to Salafias embalming procedures. 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. In fact, the body of little Rosalia has organs in a perfect state of preservation and you can see how one lung is denser than the other, a clear sign that the little girl actually fell ill with bronchopneumonia. The story of love, loss, beauty and tragedy have captured thousands of people through multiple generations. Pushed him to improve the preservation technique in order to preserve its natural beauty piece of evidence pointing Mario... Virgins and children Rosalia 's father, Mario Lombardo, i genitori della Rosalia. 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