Poisoning histories in the Italian renaissance: The case of Pico Della Mirandola and Angelo Poliziano

Gianni Gallello; Elisabetta Cilli; Fulvio Bartoli; Massimo Andretta; Lucio Calcagnile; Agustin Pastor; Miguel de la Guardia; Patrizia Serventi; Alberto Marino; Stefano Benazzi; Giorgio Gruppioni

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2018.03.016

Poisoning histories in the Italian renaissance: The case of Pico Della Mirandola and Angelo Poliziano

J Forensic Leg Med. 2018 May:56:83-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.03.016. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Archaeology, University of York, King's Manor, Exhibition Square, YO1 7EP, York, UK. Electronic address: gianni.gallello@york.ac.uk.
² Department of Cultural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 1 Ariani Street, 48121 Ravenna, Italy.
³ Department of Biology University of Pisa, 13 Luca Ghini Street, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
⁴ School of Engineering and Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, CIRSA, 163 S. Alberto Street, 40123 Ravenna, Italy.
⁵ Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento, Via per Arnesano Street, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
⁶ Department of Analytical Chemistry University of Valencia, 50 Dr. Moliner Street, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
⁷ Department of Cultural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 1 Ariani Street, 48121 Ravenna, Italy; Department of Biological, Geological & Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 3 Selmi Street, Bologna, Italy.
⁸ Reparto Investigazioni Scientifiche (RIS), Arma dei Carabinieri, Parma, Italy.
⁹ Department of Cultural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 1 Ariani Street, 48121 Ravenna, Italy; Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

PMID: 29609050
DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.03.016

Abstract

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Angelo Poliziano were two of the most important humanists of the Italian Renaissance. They died suddenly in 1494 and their deaths have been for centuries a subject of debate. The exhumation of their remains offered the opportunity to study the cause of their death through a multidisciplinary research project. Anthropological analyses, together with documentary evidences, radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis supported the identification of the remains attributed to Pico. Macroscopic examination did not reveal paleopathological lesions or signs related to syphilis. Heavy metals analysis, carried out on bones and mummified tissues, showed that in Pico's remains there were potentially lethal levels of arsenic, supporting the philosopher's poisoning theory reported by documentary sources. The arsenic concentrations obtained from analysis of Poliziano's remains, are probably more related to an As chronic exposure or diagenetic processes rather than poisoning.

Keywords: Ancient DNA; Angelo Poliziano; Arsenic poisoning; Girolamo benivieni; Pico della Mirandola; Radiocarbon dating.

Publication types

Historical Article

MeSH terms

Arsenic / analysis*
Arsenic Poisoning / history*
Bone and Bones / chemistry*
Carbon Radioisotopes
DNA, Ancient
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
Forensic Toxicology
History, 15th Century
Humans
Italy
Male
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Mummies
Spectrum Analysis / methods

Substances

Carbon Radioisotopes
DNA, Ancient
Arsenic