Warning: This website contains subject matter that relates to death and funery practices; graphic images relating to these topics will be included. Some of the bodies depicted on this website met a violent death and others may still have living relations. Please be advised about these concerns before viewing the website.
Interacting with the Dead in Palermo
The catacombs of Palermo was a location in which interaction with the
dead was very important. Because the significance of these catacombs was
religious in nature, the people who were entombed were put there
deliberately by family. Family members had the opportunity to visit them.
As illustrated on the page about the History of Palermo, originally the catacombs were only for the deceased Capuchin monks
who resided in the monastery located above the catacombs. This changed
to a more public burial location. It was a resting place for the dead monks in the earlier years and interaction with the dead was crucial and played a part in worship; it was in the catacombs that the monks would perform their evening prayer so that they could reflect on mortality (1).
Once the catacombs became a popular location for people to place their
deceased loved ones, it became a status symbol for those families. Typically once a body is disposed of, the family would visit the grave but not have to maintain it. However, the preservation of the bodies in the Catacombs is an ongoing affair. The bodies of the people in the catacombs were well preserved, but they also underwent constant maintenance. Once a body arrived at the subterranean burial site, it underwent the initial preservation which is a series of chemicals designed to converse the body. The exact usage of the chemicals is unknown, but a written account by Alfredo Salafia lists the concoction including chemicals such as formalin (to kill bacteria), alcohol (to dehydrate the tissue),glycerin (to prevent over drying), salicylic
Past
Rosalia Lombardo as she appeared in 1995 and who died in 1920.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palermo_Rosalia_Lombardo.jpg
acid (to kill fungi) and zinc salts(for rigidity) (2). This combination of chemicals allowed for incredible preservation, as seen by the body of Rosalia Lombardo who died in 1920. After the initial treatment, the bodies would then be cleaned (with vinegar) and changed regularly as long as the family continued to pay the fees(3). If the family did not however continue the payments, the body would then be removed from its location and stored on one of the shelves to make room for a new body. This constant maintenance meant that the dead were in constant interaction with the living; both the caretakers of the body and the family would visit the body that they were paying to preserve.
The most well-known story of interaction with the dead of Palermo comes from the story of Rosalia Lombardo known as the “sleeping beauty.” Rosalia was the last body preserved at Palermo in 1920, she was just under two years old when she died and was preserved by the embalmer Alfredo Salafia. Her death was caused by pneumonia and her much aggrieved father, the Official Mario Lombardo, preserved her so that he could still interact with her, which he did for many years (2). In instances such as this particular case, this level of preservation allowed the living to maintain a relationship with their deceased.
This video is a guide around the catacombs in Palermo, it is a vitual guide through the various halls for different catergories of people
Present
In the Modern Era, the interaction with the dead of Palermo is very different in comparison to how people engaged with the dead during the time in which the catacombs were in use. Since the last deceased individual was placed in the catacombs in 1920, there is no longer a familial connection between the living and the dead. This means there is no longer an emotional attachment between the people who visit this site.
Modern interaction with the dead has changed since the inseption of the catacombs; from a religous memorial to a showcase of the dead. The Catacombs of Palermo is now a museum where the bodies are displayed for people to visit. The catacombs are organized into separate hallways, respectively for Men, Women, Virgins, Children, Priests, Monks, and Professionals (this division of bodies is visible in the video to the left). The museum has now become a tourist attraction and as such has gained media attention. In addition to the media surrounding the catacombs there have also been studies into the preservation techniques used on these bodies. One of the
best videos on this subject can be found Here where Big Blue Media invesgiates various bodies within the catacombs. Further details surrounding touism, pop culture and scientific studies can be found on the Modern Palermo page of this website.
This change in interaction reflects the usage of the catacombs themselves, as without the influx of new bodies’ people lose their connection to the dead.
Sources
(1) Rutan Buckland, Mary. Palermo’s Subterranean Necropolis: The Capuchin Catacomb. St. Petersburg: University of South Florida , 2013.
(2)Lange, Karen. Lost "Sleeping Beauty" Mummy Formula Found. January 26, 2008. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090126-sicily-mummy.html.
(3)Brier, Bob. "The Well-Dressed Dead." Archaeology, 2003: 32-35.
Other
Reportage: Dressed for eternity. n.d. http://www.reportage.org/2000/MummiesPalermo/PagesMummiesP/paoloventura_links.html.
Rafiy, Dariusch. The Catacombs of Palermo: Rosalia's Secret. n.d. http://www.bbmdist.com/VideoDetails.aspx?videoid=16.
Header Image:
http://www.travelhotplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Catacombs-of-the-Capuchins.jpg
