title: The embalmed heart of Richard the Lionheart (1199 A.D.): a biological and anthropological analysis.
abstract: During the Middle Ages, the partition of the cadaver of the elite members was a current practice, with highly technical treatment given to symbolic organs such as the heart. Considered mostly from a theoretical point of view, this notion of dilaceratio corporis has never been biologically explored. To assess the exact kind of embalming reserved to the heart, we performed a full biomedical analysis of the mummified heart of the English King Richard I (1199 A.D.). Here we show among other aspects, that the organ has been embalmed using substances inspired by Biblical texts and practical necessities of desiccation. We found that the heart was deposed in linen, associated with myrtle, daisy, mint, frankincense, creosote, mercury and, possibly, lime. Furthermore, the goal of using such preservation materials was to allow long-term conservation of the tissues, and good-smelling similar to the one of the Christ (comparable to the odor of sanctity).
authors: Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital R. Poincaré (AP-HP, UVSQ), 92380 Garches, France. ph_charlier@yahoo.fr
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Charlier
authors: Joël
authors: J
authors: Poupon
authors: Gaël-François
authors: GF
authors: Jeannel
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Favier
authors: Speranta-Maria
authors: SM
authors: Popescu
authors: Raphaël
authors: R
authors: Weil
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Moulherat
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Huynh-Charlier
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Dorion-Peyronnet
authors: Ana-Maria
authors: AM
authors: Lazar
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Hervé
authors: Geoffroy Lorin
authors: GL
authors: de la Grandmaison
mesh_terms: D000883:Anthropology; D004615:Embalming / Q000266:history*; D006321:Heart / Q000382:microbiology*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009106:Mummies / Q000382:microbiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000266:history
chemical_list: C413246:oleanane; D009828:Oleanolic Acid