Seven On-display Cool Corpses of Famous People in Modern History That You Would Definitely Want to See

Eva Peron (Evita)

Eva Peron was the highly respected and admired wife of the former Argentine President, Juan Peron. Upon her death due to cancer, her beloved husband directed that Eva’s body to be embalmed and placed in a shrine dedicated to her memory. Unfortunately, his wish did not materialize as his government was toppled via a coup d’état. About sixteen years after Eva’s death, her body was exhumed and found to be in perfect condition which lead to her sanctification by some Argentine people. Her body was then embalmed and displayed in a shrine for public to see.

Lenin

Lenin was the first head of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic and a leader of Russian Revolutionary. Despite his request for a simple funeral, next to his mother and sister at the family burial plot, the other communist leaders decided to embalm his body upon his death in 1924. His body was then placed on a permanent display until this day at the Lenin Mausoleum. Perhaps, this is the most famous mummified corpse of the modern history that continues to draw large crowds until today.

Stalin

Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party in Soviet Union from 1922 until 1953. He was better known as the dictator of Soviet Union and his Stalinism ideology. Upon his death due to stroke in 1953, his body was preserved and displayed in Lenin’s Mausoleum until 1961. Later, his body was removed and buried next to the Kremlin walls as an influential propaganda to “de-Stalinize” the country.

Mao

President Mao Zedong was a controversial political leader of the Communist Party in China. He died in 1976 after battling with long term illness and heart problems. Although he wished to be cremated, the members of the communist party had a better idea that was to preserve his body for political agenda and remembrance. His embalmed body was later placed and displayed in the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

St Bernadette

St Bernadette of Lourdes was the founder of a chapel in Lourdes, France, following her 18 visions. She was canonized in 1933. She died in 1879 at the age of 35 due to tuberculosis. Her body was later exhumed for three times in 1909, 1919 and 1925 and was found to be in perfect condition. Due to discoloration of her features, a thin wax mask was added – this is a common practice for relics in France. Her body is on display to this day at the Chapel of St Bernadette in Nevers, France.

Jeremy Bentham

Jeremy Bentham was the founder of utilitarianism ideology. Upon his death in the 1830s he requested that his body be displayed to illustrate what he called “horror at dissection originates in ignorance”. He also requested that his body parts and skeleton be preserved. In addition, he specifically asked that his body be seated on a chair and dressed in his normal clothes, as if he was normally seen to be engaged in thought. Due to some problems encountered while preserving his head, it was then replaced with a wax head. You can visit University College London to see his body on an open display.

Good Pope John

Pope John XXIII also known as Good Pope John is credited as a Christian reformer who had encouraged modernization of the Roman Catholic Church during his short reign from 1958 to 1963. It was said that his body was not embalmed at the time of his death but it was treated with formalin solution before his body was buried in the grotto under the St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Thirty-eight years later his body was exhumed and found to be in a perfect condition, which the Church said was due to the lack of air ventilation in the coffin instead of a miracle. His body was then moved to a new tomb at the Altar of St Jerome for the followers to pay respect.