Thisharaka
Hidden in a catacomb in Palermo, Sicily, lies the remarkably preserved body of Rosalia Lombardo, a young girl who died just before her second birthday in 1920. Due to an embalming process that has intrigued the world, her delicate features appear frozen in time. Some visitors claim that Rosalia, known as the “blinking mummy,” opens and closes her eyes throughout the day.
A Heartbroken Father’s Request for Eternal Preservation
Rosalia Lombardo’s tragic death was a result of pneumonia, which she contracted during the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic. Heartbroken by the loss, her father, Mario Lombardo, turned to the renowned Sicilian embalmer Alfredo Salafia with a desperate request: to preserve his daughter so she would appear to “live forever.”
Salafia’s embalming work was so masterful that Rosalia’s body is one of the best-preserved mummies in the world. Her skin still looks smooth, her golden hair tied with a silk bow, and her crystal blue eyes are visible beneath her eyelashes. Her preservation has earned her the nickname “Sleeping Beauty of Palermo.”
The ‘Blinking’ Mummy: An Optical Illusion
Over the years, visitors to the Capuchin Catacombs, where Rosalia rests, have reported seeing her eyes slightly open, giving rise to eerie legends. In 2009, Italian paleopathologist Dario Piombino-Mascali investigated this phenomenon and found that it was simply an optical illusion. He explained that Rosalia’s eyes had never fully closed after embalming, and the way light filters into the catacomb at different times of day makes it appear as though her eyes are opening and closing. This illusion, however, has added to the mystery surrounding her.
The Secret Formula Behind Her Preservation
Salafia’s embalming formula remained a mystery for decades until Piombino-Mascali discovered a document in Salafia’s personal papers. The formula used to preserve Rosalia included formalin, zinc salts, alcohol, glycerin, and salicylic acid. Formalin, a mixture of formaldehyde and water, killed bacteria, while alcohol dried the body. Glycerin helped keep her body from drying out completely, and salicylic acid prevented the growth of fungi. The key ingredient, however, was zinc, which gave Rosalia’s body remarkable rigidity—so much so that her body could theoretically be propped up to stand.
A Glimpse Into the Past
Rosalia Lombardo was among the last to be buried in the Capuchin Catacombs, which house over 8,000 mummies dating back to the 1500s. Her father’s wish to preserve her memory has ensured that she remains an iconic figure in Palermo. Today, Rosalia’s body rests in a new glass case designed to protect it from light and bacteria, preserving her for future generations to witness.
Rosalia’s Lasting Legacy
Though stories of the “blinking mummy” persist, experts like Piombino-Mascali are working to dispel myths and protect her from harmful speculations. Visitors are drawn to the catacombs to see the little girl who seems to defy time, a testament to the delicate balance between life, death, and preservation.
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