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The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses: A Journey into the Macabre

Harrison Blair

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Published in Rest In Pieces: The Curious Fates Of Famous Corpses

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Death, the ultimate equalizer, has a way of stripping away our superficial differences and revealing the universal truth that connects us all. And while for most of us, death marks the end of our physical journey, for some, it is merely the beginning of a curious and macabre tale.

Throughout history, the bodies of famous people have met with a wide range of fates, from the bizarre to the downright disrespectful. In this article, we delve into the curious and often unsettling stories of how some of the world's most renowned individuals have fared after their final breath.

Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses

by Bess Lovejoy

4.5 out of 5

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The Immortal Head of Jeremy Bentham

Jeremy Bentham, the renowned English philosopher and social reformer, had a rather unusual request for his body after his death. He bequeathed his body to University College London, with the stipulation that it be preserved and used for anatomical demonstrations. However, instead of dissecting the body, the university decided to preserve Bentham's head and create an "auto-icon" out of it.

The auto-icon, which is dressed in Bentham's own clothes and seated in a chair, has become a permanent fixture at the university. It often attends meetings and is occasionally wheeled out to participate in special events.

The Diseased Heart of Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster's Diseased Heart Rest In Pieces: The Curious Fates Of Famous Corpses — Daniel Webster's diseased heart, preserved in a jar at the Warren Anatomical Museum.

Daniel Webster, the legendary American orator and statesman, died in 1852 from a heart ailment. His heart was removed and preserved in a jar of alcohol and is now on display at the Warren Anatomical Museum at Harvard Medical School.

The heart, which is enlarged and covered in scars, is a testament to the ravages of heart disease. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of even the most robust of individuals.

The Brain of Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein's Preserved Brain Rest In Pieces: The Curious Fates Of Famous Corpses

After Albert Einstein's death in 1955, his brain was removed and preserved by Dr. Thomas Harvey, a pathologist at Princeton Hospital. Harvey divided the brain into 240 sections and studied it extensively in an attempt to understand the genius of the great physicist.

Harvey's studies revealed that Einstein's brain had several unusual features, including an enlarged parietal lobe, which is involved in mathematical reasoning. However, no definitive s were reached regarding the source of Einstein's genius.

The Mummified Body of Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Lenin's Mummified Body Rest In Pieces: The Curious Fates Of Famous Corpses — Vladimir Lenin's mummified body, on display in the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow.

Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, died in 1924 and his body was embalmed and placed on display in the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow. The body has been subjected to a continuous process of preservation, which involves injecting it with embalming fluids and storing it in a controlled environment.

The body is now a macabre spectacle, with its skin a waxy yellow and its features frozen in a perpetual grimacing smile. The preservation of Lenin's body has been a subject of controversy, with some arguing that it is a form of morbid idolatry.

The Corpse of Eva Perón

Eva Perón's Wax Body Rest In Pieces: The Curious Fates Of Famous Corpses

Eva Perón, the beloved wife of Argentine dictator Juan Perón, died of cancer in 1952. Her body was embalmed and put on display in a glass coffin in Buenos Aires. However, the body was later stolen by anti-Peronist forces and held for ransom.

The body was eventually recovered and reburied in a secret location. In 1971, it was exhumed and a wax replica was created to replace it in the glass coffin. The wax body is now on display at the Evita Perón Museum in Buenos Aires.

The Tomb of Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun, the young Egyptian pharaoh who died in 1323 BC, is perhaps the most famous corpse in history. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and contained a vast array of treasures, including his golden death mask.

Tutankhamun's body was mummified and buried in a series of nested coffins. The body was eventually removed from the tomb and is now on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The stories of these famous corpses offer a glimpse into the strange and often macabre ways in which we deal with death. From the preserved head of Jeremy Bentham to the mummified body of Vladimir Lenin, these tales remind us that even in death, our bodies can continue to fascinate and inspire.

Whether we choose to preserve our loved ones' bodies, dissect them, or simply bury them in the ground, the fate of our corpses is ultimately a reflection of our own beliefs and values. As we contemplate our own mortality, we might take solace in the fact that even in death, we are part of a continuing story, a tale that will be told and retold for generations to come.

Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses

by Bess Lovejoy

4.5 out of 5