Human beings have always had a fascination with death. In some cultures, the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ are never left alone, but continue to interact with the living. For instance, some set up ancestor cults to memorialize their ᴅᴇᴀᴅ forebears. Others believe that the living can communicate with the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ via mediums. While these forms of interaction deal with the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in their ethereal forms, the living also interact with the physical remains of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. One of the most common modes of this interaction is the preservation of ᴅᴇᴀᴅ bodies.
Although the most famous mummies belong to the ancient Egyptian civilization, they are certainly not the only ones that have been produced by mankind. Mummies have been made in different time periods by various cultures. One fascinating location where people still marvel at mummies is the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo ( Catacombe dei Cappuccini).
Origins of the Capuchin Catacombs
The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are in Sicily, Italy. In the 16th century, the Capuchin monks of Palermo discovered that their catacombs contained a natural preservative that helped mummify the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. One of their brethren, Brother Silvestro, was the first to be mummified.
Inside the Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo.
Apparently, he was a particularly holy monk, and the preservation of his body would have been useful in attracting pilgrims to Palermo. Apart from attracting pilgrims, it also attracted the attention of locals who wanted to be preserved in the same manner. Since then, over 8000 Sicilians of various walks of life have been mummified in the catacombs.
Sleeping Beauty – The Catacombs’ Most Famous Resident
One of the most recent, and perhaps most famous mummies is that of a two-year-old girl, Rosalia Lombardo. Rosalia was placed in the catacombs when she died in 1920. Her body is so well-preserved that she looks as if she were just sleeping in her glᴀss coffin, hence her nickname “Sleeping Beauty.”
The secret for her excellent state of preservation was revealed a few years ago, when a hand-written memoir of the embalmer, Alfredo Salafia, was discovered. This memoir recorded the chemicals that he injected into Rosalia’s blood. These chemicals were formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycerin. It has been suggested that it was the zinc salts that have been the most responsible for maintaining Rosalia’s amazing state of preservation
Rosalia Lombardo, the “Sleeping Beauty” of the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo.
Apparently, the monks were able to maintain the catacombs through the donations of the relatives of the deceased. Each new body was first placed in a temporary niche, and later moved to a more permanent place. As long as the money entered the monks’ pockets, the body remained in its proper place. When the relatives stopped sending money, however, the body was placed aside on a shelf until payment was resumed. It seems that the catacombs were a surprisingly effective way for the monks to earn their living.
The researchers will use non-invasive methods to capture digital images of each child from head to toe.
Reflecting on the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo
Finally, what strikes me as ironic about the catacombs is that the Christian notions of life as a transitory phase, and the concept of equality before God have been thrown out of the window. Apparently, many of the people buried in the catacombs wrote wills that specified the kind of clothes they wanted to be buried in, and some even wanted to have their clothes changed over time.
It seems that even in death, these people have been unable to let go of their ephemeral mortal existence. Moreover, social stratification is also clearly visible in the catacombs. There are separate sections for priests, monks, men, women, virgins, children, and professionals. The ᴅᴇᴀᴅ seem to cling on to the social status they held in life. Therefore, it seems that the catacombs reflect the vanity of those buried there, and their refusal to let go of mortal life.
Perhaps this should force us to reflect on our own lives. By looking at the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in those catacombs, we might realize that life is brief, and material wealth is naught in death. By doing so, we may realize the important things in life, and value each living moment.
