Body of 17th century bishop displayed for first time
/Screen capture from Twitter
The mummified remains of a 17th century Swedish bishop went on public display for the first time at the Lund University Historical Museum, Sweden, last week before being reinterred at the Lund Cathedral on Friday.
The remains of Bishop Peder Winstrup, a key figure in Scandinavia’s history, attracted a record number of visitors, with more than 3,510 people queuing to see the body. The museum extended its opening hours until 10 p.m. to allow the visitors to get a rare glimpse of the body.
“There are still people coming today hoping for a chance to see him, but the coffin is now sealed,” said Lund University Historical Museum director Per Karsten.
Bishop Peder Winstrup, who died in 1679, is believed to have suffered a series of ailments, including gout, severe arthritis and heart disease.
The body was first found in velvet sleeves and an embroidered linen shirt in 1844 and then sealed back in the Lund cathedral crypt. Experts said the cold dry air in the Bishop’s crypt allowed his body to be the one of the best preserved 17th century bodies in Europe.
The body was later reinterred at the Kyrkogarden Cemetery, outside the city center in 2003.
Winstrup was not only a leading theologian, but also skilled scientist and architect. He played an important role in persuading the King of Sweden to build a university in Lund.
Meanwhile, scientists have spent 15 months studying his remains, conducting CT and x-ray scans of the body.
The study revealed that a mysterious fetus was buried beneath his feet in his coffin.