Be amazed at the 100-year-old corpses that still retain their natural beauty so beautiful that it’s like they’re just falling asleep
Mummification is a technique that uses chemicals to ensure that the body of a dead person does not decompose after they die. If in the past, embalming was only applied according to certain formulas, now this work has more diverse options, with many different chemicals.
Along with the outstanding development of science and technology, the work of embalming has made great progress. There are many corpses, after being mummified, still retain the features on the face and body, but are not deformed or wrinkled.
It is these advancements that help the deceased maintain their natural beauty and demeanor – making them look like they are falling asleep.
- Saint Bernadette
Saint Bernadette (1844 – 1879) whose real name was Marie Bernarde Soubirous, was born in 1844 and was the daughter of a miller in Lourdes (France).
Many people recount that, on February 11, 1858, Saint Bernadette had the opportunity to witness Mary appearing right before her eyes in a cave by the river. After that event, she decided to follow the path of cultivation.
In 1867, St. Bernardette suffered from rheumatism but still managed to work as a nurse. Her health deteriorated and she could no longer work. In 1877, her condition worsened and she died in the middle of Easter week 1879 at the age of 35. A miracle happened to this pious woman: after her death her body showed no sign of decay.
While performing a religious ceremony in 1909, her body was exhumed and all the onlookers were surprised to see that Bernadette looked more like sleeping than dead.
Saint Bernadette still retains the holy beauty on her face and perfect skin. Today, her body is on display in the chapel in the Lourdes region, and a little wax is used to keep the body of Saint Bernadette perfect in the glass coffin.
- Rosalia Lombardo
Rosalia Lombardo (1918 – 1920) was the daughter of an Italian military general – Mario Lombardo. The little girl died on December 6, 1920 at the age of almost 3, and was one of the last victims of the Spanish flu in 1920.
Rosalia’s father Mario is heartbroken over the passing of his little daughter. Therefore, he went to professional embalmer Alfredo Salafia with the desire to keep Rosalia’s image forever.
Then he asked to preserve his daughter’s body in the Capuchin catacombs in Palermo (Italy). Rosalia is the last to be accepted among the 8,000 mummies here.
To embalm baby Rosalia, the girl’s blood was first replaced with formalin. Next, alcohol and glycerin are used to keep her body dry without completely dehydrating.
Salicylic acid was then added to suppress the growing body fungus. And finally, zinc salts were added for the purpose of hardening the corpse.
Thanks to this method of preservation, so far, Rosalia’s body has shown no signs of decomposition. Rosalia’s face was still lovely and fresh as if she were sleeping soundly.
The golden strands of hair were still intact on her smooth, cherry-colored skin. When she sleeps looking at her like an angel, Rosalia is hailed as ”the most beautiful mummy in the world”.
- Eva ”Evita” Peron
Eva Peron (1919 – 1952) or Evita – was one of the most beloved women in Argentina. She was the second wife of Argentine president Juan Peron, and was the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952 of cancer.
She is admired by the Argentine people for fighting for women’s suffrage, ensuring benefits for workers and establishing hospitals and orphanages. Therefore, after Evita’s death, people decided to embalm her body as a gesture of gratitude and respect.
Her mummification was carried out by the famous professor of anatomy Pedro Ana. To perform the embalming, the amount of blood and water in her body will be completely replaced with a solution of glycerin. All organs including the brain were removed and preserved carefully.
When she was alive, how beautiful Evita possessed, when she died, her body was also shimmering. After a coup in Argentina, her body was stolen in 1955 and hidden in Italy. Her ravishing beauty made a bodyguard ”shake” and admit to having ”fallen in love”.