We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
History

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Difficult Is It to Keep Lenin’s Body on Display?

By Kevin Hellyer
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,496
References
Share

Vladimir Lenin, founding father of the Soviet Union, died in 1924 after suffering his third stroke at age 53. Thanks to a century of embalming efforts, he still looks (more or less) like he did when he was entombed in a mausoleum in Moscow’s Red Square, and put on public display.

While online polls have found that more than 60 percent of Russians favor giving him a proper burial, leaders in the Kremlin continue his costly preservation. In fact, in 2016, the Russian government announced it would spend 13 million rubles (about $200,000 USD) a year to maintain the corpse. Scientists are constantly working hard to try to keep the body in good shape, including changing out embalming fluids every 18 months.

How they keep Lenin looking like Lenin:

  • To maintain Lenin's body, the mausoleum staff perform regular maintenance on the corpse. Specialists have preserved his skeleton and muscles, though some parts of the body have been replaced, including his eyelashes and a few patches of skin.

  • Some parts of Lenin's body have been reconstituted to restore the “original feel and appearance.” A moldable substance made of paraffin, glycerin and carotene replaced most of the skin fat in order to maintain the body’s original “landscape."

  • Lenin's brain was removed and analyzed at the Soviet Brain Institute. Some remnants are still preserved at the Neurology Centre at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://direct.wisegeek.com/how-difficult-is-it-to-keep-lenins-body-on-display.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.