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Mon 23 Nov, 2009 11:35 am
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/23/galileo.fingers/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn
(CNN) -- Two fingers cut from the hand of Italian astronomer Galileo nearly 300 years ago have been rediscovered more than a century after they were last seen, an Italian museum director said Monday.
They were purchased recently at an auction by a person who brought them to the Museum of the History of Science in Florence, suspecting what they were, museum director Paolo Galluzzi said.
Three fingers were cut from Galileo's hand in March 1737, when his body was moved from a temporary monument to its final resting place in Florence, Italy. The last tooth remaining in his lower jaw was also taken, Galluzzi said.
(More at link)
@Merry Andrew,
What is about old body parts of famous people that create interest? While traveling in Europe I counted six pinky fingers supposedly belonging to the Virgin Mary and at least three index fingers belonging to St. Paul. I also seem to recall a famous preserved penis, but for the life of me I can't recall who it supposedly belonged to. No town was complete without its old bones attraction. I guess they expect Galileo's fingers might bring in the science crowd. Personally, I prefer sculpture and stained glass.
@Green Witch,
Big brouhaha in Hawaii right now about some "relics" (read: body parts in the form of bones) of the newly-created Saint Damien, a priest who labored among lepers on the island of Molokai'i, being returned to Hawaii for a grand tour of all the churches. Barbaric, in my opinion.
@Merry Andrew,
It was Galileos middle finger. He had the last laugh
@Merry Andrew,
I simply find it amazing that the fingers are still preserved after so long. How were they found? I'd just be curious. And quite honestly what body part would be most expensive? Would it depend on the person actual talent or what they were known for - for example Einstein's hair should go for quite a bit I would imagine. What is it about Galileo's fingers that made them so valuable one would want to preserve them?
@Linkat,
John Dillingers Johnson was reportedly at the Mutter Museum but I dont know if that was just a joke or for real.
@Linkat,
From the link I posted above:
Quote:Removing body parts from the corpse was an echo of a practice common with saints, whose digits, tongues and organs were revered by Catholics as relics with sacred powers.
There is an irony in Galileo's having been subjected to the same treatment, since he was persecuted by the Catholic Church for advocating the theory that the earth circles the sun, rather than the other way around. The Inquisition forced him to recant, and jailed him in 1634.
The people who cut off his fingers essentially considered him a secular saint, Galluzzi said, noting the fingers that were removed were the ones he would have used to hold a pen.
@Merry Andrew,
On occassion a new Pope would dig up his predecessor and with a sort of "your silence can only incriminate you further" attitude, put them on trail. Surprisingly, they were often found guilty (a finding of innocence has never been documented) and they would have the two blessing fingers cut off of the right hand.
@Green Witch,
Penis as relic? The only notable penis allegedly preserved belonged to the miscreant
Rasputin. Menace to the Romanov family (the last Tsars of Russia).
@Linkat,
Einstein's hair?! Did you hear about Einstein's brain? Now that's a great story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4602913
The Indignity of Thomas Paine
- In September 1819, William Cobbett went to Thomas Paine's grave in New Rochelle, New York, dug up Paine's body, and raced the authorities to the docks where he sailed back to England with the corpse. Upon revealing the body to Customs agents in Liverpool, Cobbett announced "There, gentlemen, are the mortal remains of the immortal Thomas Paine." Cobbett's intention was to build a memorial to Paine in England since his memory (and his grave) was being disrespected in the United States. There was just one problem - Paine had been strongly against the monarchy and was still considered something of an outlaw in England. Cobbett's plans were refused. And so, what was left of Thomas Paine was stored in William Cobbett's attic and remained there until his death.
- In 1822 William Cobbett had a "grave mask" made from Paine's decomposed body. This mask (along with the "death mask") is on display at the Thomas Paine National Museum and will be useful in positively matching Paine's skull (now believed to be in Australia) with the mold taken from the "grave mask."
- After William Cobbett died in 1835, it is believed his son sold the remains of Thomas Paine in pieces. At one time, a Bishop in England was said to have Paine's right hand and skull adorning his mantlepiece. An English woman claimed to have his jawbone. A man in France claimed to own one of his ribs. Buttons are also said to have been made from his bones. How ironic that this first "citizen of the world" would end up scattered around it. Efforts are underway to have Paine's remains returned to New Rochelle for re-burial.
@edgarblythe,
Bizarre! First time I heard that story, edgar. Thank you. (How'd the skull get to Oz, btw?)
@Merry Andrew,
Prolly stolded by a kangaroo.
@edgarblythe,
edgarblythe wrote:
And so, what was left of Thomas Paine was stored in William Cobbett's attic and remained there until his death.
How long did it take the body to finally die?
@roger,
roger wrote:
edgarblythe wrote:
And so, what was left of Thomas Paine was stored in William Cobbett's attic and remained there until his death.
How long did it take the body to finally die?
How would I know? I'm no doctor, no historian. How about you ask Spendius?
@tsarstepan,
In the middle ages there was a relic supposedly of Jesus himself : the Holy Foreskin. There was also milk and menstrual fluid from the Holy Virgin. Many of these "relics" were destroyed by the town next door who didnt like competitiion for their relics.
@edgarblythe,
The only marsupial known to have a pathological interest in human heads is the drop bear.
@Ionus,
Don't be too sure. It looks to me like a possum took george Jones's head and then perched on his shoulders.
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