The embalming of the ancestors of the Dutch royal family

Vermeeren, C.; Haaster, H. van

doi:10.1007/s003340200013

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Drawing from the characteristics for Eucalyptus and Syzygium described in these articles, we found that there is considerable overlap in metric and nonmetric traits. We also reviewed the pollen morphology of myrtle (Myrtus) because this genus had been found in mummy context, apparently used in the processing of corpses (Vermeeren and van Haaster, 2002). Interestingly, a few of the Myrtaceae grains were found in clusters of pairs, triads, and tetrads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cloves have been used in concoctions for embalming cadavers (Marinozzi and Fornaciari, 2005). In a study of pollen from the embalming of the Dutch royal family in the late 1400s to early 1500s, two species of Myrtaceae were reported, one was identified as cloves and the other was identified as myrtle (Vermeeren and van Haaster, 2002). It was assumed that the pollen came from the embalming mixture or from the body lying directly atop a bed of herbs and spices to mask the scent of decay (Marinozzi and Fornaciari, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pollen evidence of medicine from an embalming jar associated with Vittoria della Rovere, Florence, Italy

Reinhard

Lynch

Larsen

et al. 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Various samples of human viscera fragments, sponges, and cloth were collected from embalming jars belonging to members of the Medici family of Florence. One jar was labeled with the name Vittoria della Rovere, who died in March of 1694. This jar contained viscera fragments that were identified as a section of collapsed intestine. The intestine of the Vittoria della Rovere sample contained a large concentration of pollen belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The Myrtaceae pollen was sometimes observed in clusters during analysis, which is indicative of purposeful ingestion of flowers, buds, or a substance derived from floral structures. Thus, the high concentrations and clustering of Myrtaceae pollen grains recovered from this sample are reflective of dietary or medicinal practices. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the pollen was from cloves, Syzygium aromaticum. It is most likely that Vittoria della Rovere consumed cloves for medicinal or culinary reasons shortly before death.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen evidence of medicine from an embalming jar associated with Vittoria della Rovere, Florence, Italy

Reinhard

Lynch

Larsen

et al. 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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“…There is no doubt that a more robust dataset could allow to investigate these parameters. The survey should also be extended to other countries where previous works have already provided similar results, as in the Netherlands (Vermeeren and Van Haaster 2002) or in the Czech Republic (Beneš et al 2012), in order to shed light on the mobility of naturalist and medical knowledge in Europe.…”

Section: Conclusion and Further Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Plants and aromatics for embalming in Late Middle Ages and modern period: a synthesis of written sources and archaeobotanical data (France, Italy)

Corbineau

Ruas

Barbier-Pain

et al. 2017

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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International audienceOccasionally mentioned in written sources since the Early Middle Ages, embalming with evisceration spreads considerably and becomes quite usual practice for aristocratic elites from the late 13th century to the early 19th century. Apothecaries prepare aromatic powders including many plant organs and exudates supposed to preserve the body. Numerous encyclopaedias and treatises of medicine list these ingredients and show that the recipes are very diverse. Moreover, several studies of embalmed bodies have demonstrated the potential of archaeobotanical analyses coupling pollen and macro-remains for identifying this material. This paper aims to compile a synthesis of written and archaeological sources from France and Italy, and to assess the relevance of an interdisciplinary approach for a better understanding of this aristocratic burial practice. It demonstrates that both types of sources and approaches are strongly complementary and highlights their inherent advantages and methodological limitations. In order to understand which criteria were determinant in the composition of the embalming powders, their medicinal, odoriferous and symbolic properties are discussed. Finally, this work proposes some methodological perspectives and triggers new research avenues on the history of pharmacy in Late Medieval and modern Europe

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“…Pieter van Foreest [Petrus Forestus], który nadzorował autopsję zwłok i proces balsamowania zwłok księcia Wilhelma Orańskiego 40 , pozostawił po sobie opis zastosowanych technik i środków. Nie różniły się one istotnie od modelu zaproponowanego przez Parégo 41 . U progu XVIII stulecia francuski lekarz Pierre Donis nakazywał usunąć mózg, oczy i wnętrzności, wypełnić puste przestrzenie mieszaniną aromatycznych ziół, wykonać głębokie nacięcia w tkankach i wprowadzić tą drogą środki konserwujące.…”

Section: Nowożytne Metody Balsamierskieunclassified

Pochówek prymasa Polski Adama Ignacego Komorowskiego w świetle badań historyczno-antropologicznych

Kamińska

Szczepanek

Gryglewski³

et al. 2022

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Prymas A. I. Komorowski chciał, aby jego ciało zostało złożone w Łowiczu, a wnętrzności w Skierniewicach. Podczas analizy antropologicznej szkieletu zaobserwowano zmiany chorobowe oraz ślady po usunięciu tkanek miękkich. Obserwacje te znajdują potwierdzenie w źródłach pisanych i ikonograficznych; stały się też podstawą do rekonstrukcji twarzy prymasa. Ekstrakcja narządów wewnętrznych stała się podstawą do prześledzenia praktyk tanatopraktycznych w Polsce.

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The embalming of the ancestors of the Dutch royal family

Cited by 10 publications

References 1 publication

Pollen evidence of medicine from an embalming jar associated with Vittoria della Rovere, Florence, Italy

Pollen evidence of medicine from an embalming jar associated with Vittoria della Rovere, Florence, Italy

Plants and aromatics for embalming in Late Middle Ages and modern period: a synthesis of written sources and archaeobotanical data (France, Italy)

Pochówek prymasa Polski Adama Ignacego Komorowskiego w świetle badań historyczno-antropologicznych

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