Sicily is one of the richest Italian regions in terms of mummified corpses. In addition to the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, several other mummy collections are present in many churches, convents and funerary chapels. The Sicilian mummies are the result of a particular treatment, obtained by drying the body in favourable microclimatic conditions without evisceration, a method which permitted to achieve an equally good state of preservation. Mummification was an extremely diffused phenomenon in Sicily during the 18th and 19th centuries, not only among the upper, but also the middle-classes. In this communication we present the first results of a survey carried out in Sicily in 2005 and 2006. the research allowed us to investigate this cultural phenomenon, to document the architectural structures appointed to the mummification process and to enrich the knowledge of the presence of Sicilian bodies mummified during the late Modern Age
momification y descarnacion en la Italia meridional de la Edad Moderna tardia
FORNACIARI A;GIUFFRA, VALENTINA
2008-01-01
Abstract
Sicily is one of the richest Italian regions in terms of mummified corpses. In addition to the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, several other mummy collections are present in many churches, convents and funerary chapels. The Sicilian mummies are the result of a particular treatment, obtained by drying the body in favourable microclimatic conditions without evisceration, a method which permitted to achieve an equally good state of preservation. Mummification was an extremely diffused phenomenon in Sicily during the 18th and 19th centuries, not only among the upper, but also the middle-classes. In this communication we present the first results of a survey carried out in Sicily in 2005 and 2006. the research allowed us to investigate this cultural phenomenon, to document the architectural structures appointed to the mummification process and to enrich the knowledge of the presence of Sicilian bodies mummified during the late Modern AgeI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
