Poisoning histories in the Italian renaissance: The case of Pico Della Mirandola and Angelo Poliziano. (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gallello, Gianni; Cilli, Elisabetta; Bartoli, Fulvio; Andretta, Massimo; Calcagnile, Lucio; Pastor, Agustin; de la Guardia, Miguel; Serventi, Patrizia; Marino, Alberto; Benazzi, Stefano; Gruppioni, Giorgio
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic and legal medicine. Volume 56(2018)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Arsenic poisoning -- Ancient DNA -- Radiocarbon dating -- Pico della Mirandola -- Angelo Poliziano -- Girolamo benivieni; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.03.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-928X

Abstract

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. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Poisoning cases of the Italian Renaissance Florentine humanists Pico and Poliziano. High arsenic values in soft tissues and especially in Pico toenail have been found. Our methodological approach may provide data to proof arsenic poisoning.