Why have communist leaders been embalmed and displayed for over a century?
In short: Across the globe, several prominent communist leaders have been preserved and placed on public display. This video explores the history and science behind the practice, examining why figures like Vladimir Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, and the Kim dynasty were treated as macabre relics rather than buried.
The practice of public preservation for communist leaders began with Vladimir Lenin, whose body has been kept in a glass sarcophagus near Moscow’s Kremlin Walls for over a hundred years. Rather than being interred in the Kremlin necropolis like other Soviet figures, Lenin is maintained by an elite team of specialists tasked with keeping his remains lifelike.
This tradition extended beyond the Soviet Union to other nations, including Vietnam, China, and North Korea. The video investigates the origins of this bizarre custom and the technical methods, such as the use of formaldehyde, that allow these leaders to remain on near-continuous display for posterity.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: WTF is Up with Embalming and Displaying Communists?
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-wtf-is-up-with-embalming-and-displaying-communists.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
