Galileo's Vertebra

Galileo's Fifth Lumbar Vertebra

The fifth lumbar vertebra of Galileo Galilei exhibited in the hall of the Faculty of Sciences in the Univesity of Padova in Italy. In the 18th century Galileo's remnants were transported inside the church of S.Croce in Firenze, to be buried there. It was then that some of his bones were stolen, among which this vertebra. It passed from hand to hand to be eventually donated to the University of Padova in 1823 by Domenico Thiene, its last posessor.

For more information on the vertebra and other Galileo's artifacts, see the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo home page in Padova, Italy.

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