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Lenin Mausoleum

Lenin

Did you know that the former communist leader of Russia known as 'Lenin' was never buried? They say that his body was mummified in wax and put on display. Here some history of Lenin:

To see pictures of the Mausoleum go here:
https://www.lindsayfincher.com/russia/leninstomb.html

Mausoleum Lenin

I really cannot comment on wether his body or may not have been mummified as I have not done any research, but I can say that to me having a statue or special building is more dignified than displaying an eternal corpse.

Lenin Mausoleum History & Civil Business Politics

Vladimir Iliych Ulianov (Lenin) was born on April 22, 1870 and died January 21, 1924.

His body was mummified and put on display in the building made for this special purpose. The temporary building was made of wood, later it was replaced with a building made of red and black granite. The Mausoleum is situated on the main square of Moscow, the Red Square (its name has nothing to do with revolutionary red. In Old Russian "red" meant not only the colour but also "beautiful").

The reason of such a choice is unknown to me. In Soviet times, a lot of things that were done, were explained with "request we received from people" but I strongly doubt that there were enough people who'd address the goverment with such a strange request. Simply because it totaly contradicts basic Russian ideas of burying.
Even taking into account the young Soviet state was already leading a war against religion and church, still a lot of people didn't lose their religious believes yet, and those who were born after the revolution (November 1917) and therefore, were being raised up in a new, antireligious spirit, were too young to participate.
Both in Russian Orthodox and just secular life tradition, a dead body should be buried in ground.
No one in their sane mind would come up with such a request. It was simply unheard of, to keep a dead body unburied.

I do not know how reliable it is, but they say there is a will made by Lenin that he wanted to be buried with his mother, on Volkovo cemetary in St. Petersburg.
The original of this will was never shown and, as far as I know, it never was written down. It was just words somebody heard from Lenin, so it might be not true. But taking into account he really was very close to his mother, I wouldn't be surprised to know he really wanted it.

The most probable reasons for the mummification, as it seems to me:

1. although Lenin was not in his best shape during his last days, still his death happened quite suddenly. He actually felt better the day before it, and it was mentioned in newspapers.
Quite possible they simply were not ready for a really solemn procedure, so neded time to get ready to it and also to wait for all the participants to gather.

2. there was a huge amount of people coming to Moscow those days, to tell their farewell to whom they considered to be their saviour and favourite leader.
It is a historical fact that people were waiting for days outdoors, warming themselves by fires they made straight on the square only to be able to see the body for a few seconds while passing by it in a non-stopping stream of people when the place was open for visit.

On a side-note, the winter that year was very severe, even to Russia standarts (frosts got to -35 C, as this year, too, by the way!) but it didn't scare the people who spent days in waiting.

So, what I think, maybe originally they decided to preserve the body just for a few days, and then, by the reason I really don't know, decided to keep it like that forever, instead of burying it.

The mummification was made by chief specialists and later an institute was established. Its main goal was to take care of Lenin's body and also make similar work with other bodies (there were some leaders of socialist countries who were mummified the same way).

When Stalin died (March 1953), his body was origiannly put in the Mausoleum, too, so Lenin received a flatmate, but three years later it was taken out of there after the famous XX Congress of the CPSU where Stalin's cult was reported for the first time.

From the beginning of perestroika (early 90ies) a heated discussion has been going on whether or not Lenin should be finally buried.
Right now it didn't lead to anything specific yet.

Main points of the discussion. Each pro argument has its counter argument:

1. PRO: The body is decomposing
CON: No way. The recent examination showed it could stay like this for centuries to come

2. PRO: Lenin's will should be respected. He wanted to be buried with his mother.
CON: Show us the document!

3. PRO: It's against Orthodox religion.
CON: Lenin was atheist.
Besides, it is not against it because (here comes one of my favourite bits) - the body is situated actually under the level of ground (!) So everything is fine even from the point of view of the Orthodox religion.

(A note from me: the body, striclty speaking is really under the normal level of ground because the Mausoleum is deep and to get to the Body Room you must go down a staicase, so practically it is sort of a cellar.
But really, it is not covered! When they say it should be underground, it does not mean literal position. It means it should be covered with ground, as I see it.)

4. PRO: Just take some pity on the man. Would YOU like to be "buried" like this?
CON: ..................
And in any case, it is an important scientific experiment!

5. PRO: The money that goes every year to maintain and support the institute might be spend much better.
CON: It's a science work. Besides, we can organize donations.

As far as I know, Mausoleum and the institute live partly on donations. Besides, they think about ideas to earn money, too. Thre is also a charitable fund dealing with it.

One of the weirdest suggestions I heard was that of a "mobile Mausoleum", that is, plainly speaking to organise a tour and carry body from city to city and country to country.

In 1990 Mausoleum was included into the UN list of the historical monumetns of world-wide importance or something of the kind.

People's attitude to Lenin is very different: the swing is from Jesus Christ in his new coming to Devil in flesh. A messanger from the space, a genius, a tyrant, an avenger, a man of future.

I do not have any strong opinion on the subject. But as for burying him, I'd certainly for it. Just really feel sorry for the poor man who is being forced to stay artifically alive for the period, already longer than his earthly life was.

Edited: Klausse on 24th Feb, 2006 - 4:43pm

Mausoleum Lenin

Klausse, you really do write convincing detailed messages of which much insight can be gained, so this has helped me to see another side of what would otherwise be termed 'weird'. I do wonder though... have you been to this place to see the body? Does it make you feel any different knowing it is in fact a real person and not merely a statue?

Mausoleum Lenin

Thanks!
And actually, no. I wasn't there. I've been in Moscow three times - first as a little kid, good thing my mother took me to some other places instead. I think it was a sandbox - my most favourite place when I was kid. I bet I inspected 90% of Moscow sandboxes on that my visit.
Second with a school excursion, and we didn't go there either, - some people were interested but when we got to the Red Square and saw that huge line to get in, they were not so enthusiatic any longer. Third time I was there on my own, and had not a slightest desire to go there.
I am really not a big fan of dead bodies. I'd prefer to see the person alive, and I saw documentary films of Lenin.
I strongly doubt I'd feel anything but strong pity mixed with slight disgust when looking at him. Same kind of feeling I have when think about those poor kids in the jars in Kunstkamera.

ADDITION (because I am an act-first-think-later type, so have to edit a lot to add stuff and correct typos): There is a virtual Mausoleum online. Not sure I can post the link, so that's why am not posting it.

Edited: Klausse on 24th Feb, 2006 - 4:59pm

Lenin Mausoleum

Every religion needs its Holy Artifacts. Communism is no different than other religions except you worship the state or the cult of personality (Lenin or Stalin).

Lenin Mausoleum

Communism, being a political system, is no more religion than capitalism.
But I think I know what you mean and I agree. Of course, Lenin was quite an icon.
Since it all happened so recently, scientists are missing a great opportunity to actually study how religions are made. A couple of centuries more, and Lenin could have joined a club of saints, quite possible. He already had quite a portofoglio: biographies, some of them picturing his life to days and hours; holy places; followers; written works; organisations uniting people under his name. Only no miracles, but they certainly would have appeared as time passed by.

I doubt Stalin could reach him. Maybe as the closest follower, later prophet but never as the main character.