Girolamo Segato
Encyclopedia
Girolamo Segato was an Italian naturalist, cartographer, Egyptologist, and anatomist. He is perhaps best known for his work in the artificial petrifaction
of human cadavers
Segato was born in the Carthusian
monastery of Vedana
. As a child, Segato learned basic sciences from Antonio Bagini, a Sospirolo priest. After studying under Bagini, Segato spent a short time as an accountant in Treviso before returning to secondary schooling in Belluno, where his teacher was Tomaso Antonio Catullo .
From 1818 onwards Segato participated in several archaeological expeditions to Egypt, where he became an expert in the techniques of mummification; however, most of his studies undertaken during these trips were lost.
Upon his return to Florence in 1823, Segato developed a technique similar to mummification, but unique: rather than simply removing water from cadavers, Segato's method consisted of what appears to be mineralization or "petrification".
Word soon spread that Segato had acquired knowledge of Egyptian magic. Hampered by the society of his time, he was prompted to destroy all his notes before his death. Segato took to the grave the secret of technique he developed, which despite numerous studies and attempts to imitate, remains mysterious. It is said that on his death would reveal his secret friend Pellegrini (nicknamed Pellegro), but he died prematurely.
He died in 1836 at only 44 years, and was buried along with his secret, in the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Today, many of Segato's surviving petrifications can be found in the Museum of the Department of Anatomy in Florence.
Petrifaction
In geology, petrifaction, petrification or silicification is the process by which organic material is converted into stone by impregnation with silica. It is a rare form of fossilization...
of human cadavers
Segato was born in the Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
monastery of Vedana
Vedana
Vedanā is a word in Sanskrit and Pāli traditionally translated as either "feeling" or "sensation." In general, vedanā refers to the pleasant, unpleasant and neutral sensations that occur when our internal sense organs come into contact with external sense objects and the associated...
. As a child, Segato learned basic sciences from Antonio Bagini, a Sospirolo priest. After studying under Bagini, Segato spent a short time as an accountant in Treviso before returning to secondary schooling in Belluno, where his teacher was Tomaso Antonio Catullo .
From 1818 onwards Segato participated in several archaeological expeditions to Egypt, where he became an expert in the techniques of mummification; however, most of his studies undertaken during these trips were lost.
Upon his return to Florence in 1823, Segato developed a technique similar to mummification, but unique: rather than simply removing water from cadavers, Segato's method consisted of what appears to be mineralization or "petrification".
Word soon spread that Segato had acquired knowledge of Egyptian magic. Hampered by the society of his time, he was prompted to destroy all his notes before his death. Segato took to the grave the secret of technique he developed, which despite numerous studies and attempts to imitate, remains mysterious. It is said that on his death would reveal his secret friend Pellegrini (nicknamed Pellegro), but he died prematurely.
He died in 1836 at only 44 years, and was buried along with his secret, in the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Today, many of Segato's surviving petrifications can be found in the Museum of the Department of Anatomy in Florence.