Rosalia Lombardo has been recognized as the “Mummy who Blinks.” This is because of a condition called ophthalmoplegia, in which the eyes tend to move involuntarily. She is a popular icon, but her celebrity status as an alienating and polarizing figure, according to some scholars.
Rosalia Lombardo was born in Sicily, Italy. She was two years old when she died of pneumonia in 1920. Her father had her embalmed shortly after her death. He kept her body in the family crypt for two decades. In 1948, Dr. Alfredo Salafia decided to take a new picture of Lombardo for an article he was writing on embalming techniques. When he opened the crypt, he was shocked to find that her body was still in good condition, with minimal signs of decay.
Her skin was still smooth and her hair still intact. Salafia decided to take additional pictures, which would later be published in Life magazine. Lombardo’s body has been on display at the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo since 1987. Her body has lain in its glass coffin, looking remarkably lifelike.
Rosalia Lombardo has been called the “Sleeping Beauty” and the “Mummy that Blinks”. Rosalia’s ocular movement has been linked back to the ancient concept of mummification. One of the earliest known tombs: that of Thutmose II dates back to 1450 BC.
The mummy of Rosalia Lombardo is an extraordinary artifact that still fascinates many people to this day. Even though her body has been damaged over the years, her appearance is still haunting and beautiful. It is amazing that such a delicate creature could have lasted for so long. Hopefully, scientists will be able to learn more about mummies and the ways they decay in order to preserve them for future generations.
