Medieval body embalming in the Blessed Ranieri da Borgo (†1304)

Ranieri da Borgo was a lay brother of the Conventual Franciscans, dead on November 1st, 1304. The local Municipality played a significant role in obtaining the balm for body preservation, in recording miracles since the very day of his death, and allowing the construction of the main altar above the crypt hosting his body. In order to plan a new recognition, we performed a preliminary survey. Probably in his original clothes, the mummified body was lying inside a wooden casket dating to XVI Century. The right arm was lacking, due to past burglary, whereas the left hand and feet were in excellent state of preservation. The face was covered with homogeneous brownish matter, suggesting embalming. Intentionally preserved bodies of charismatic religious people are considered the most ancient examples of body embalming in Europe. A review of the literature allowed us to find only ten artificially embalmed Holy Bodies from 1297 to 1482. In this context, Ranieri could represent the eleventh and oldest male example. Further analyses are needed to confirm this historical assumption.