CZECH REPUBLIC: 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe reburied after investigation into his mystery death

Record ID: 776955

  • Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe reburied after investigation into his mystery death
  • Date: 20th November 2010
  • Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (NOVEMBER 19, 2010) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** CZECH NATIONAL MUSEUM INSTITUTE IN PRAGUE NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE INSTITUTE CAMERAS COVERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCIENTIST TEAM LEADER, JENS VELLEV, FROM AARHUS UNIVERSITY, SAYING: "Of course it is impossible to solve this problem as scientists. In our field we can do some analysis and then we can give some questions but murder series is not the direct goal for our investigation." JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) ARCHAEOLOGIST ZDENEK DRAGOUN SAYING "From those three varieties - chronic poisoning by mercury, rash poisoning (murder) by mercury I would gladly choose the third one - which would say us that Tycho de Brahe died healthy." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE WOMAN PUTTING THE REMAINS OF THE PEARSONS FROM THE GRAVE (BRAHE'S WIFE AND OTHER BONES FOUND IN THE GARVE) INTO COFFIN BONES IN A BOX BONES BEING PUT INTO THE COFFIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCIENTIST TEAM LEADER, JENS VELLEV, FROM AARHUS UNIVERSITY, SAYING "Now we can see that the bones were in good condition and especially the dress of Tycho de Brahe, that was fantastic to see. It was so well kept that for sure we can make a reconstruction. But the results are coming in a big amount next year. Today it's a little difficult to say something sure." WORKERS CLOSING TYCHO DE BRAHE'S COFFIN WORKERS SEALING BRAHE COFFIN TYCHO DE BRAHE SIGN ON THE COFFIN FROM CAMERAS VARIOUS OF MOVING THE COFFIN INTO THE FUNERAL CAR JENS VALLEV SHAKING HANDS WITH TYN CHURCH PASTOR VLADIMIR KELNAR FUNERAL CAR LEAVING TYN CHURCH IN PRAGUE PEOPLE ENTERING THE CHURCH WITH BRAHE POSTER TO ATTEND HOLY MASS
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Czech Republic
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Topics: History,Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVA3F4KNHWMUTOUDWIWZGHKU4H4U
  • Story Text: The remains of one of history's greatest astronomers was returned to his grave on Friday (November 19) in the Czech Republic's capital, Prague.
    Czech and Danish scientists opened the Prague tomb of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe on Monday (November 15) in an attempt to discover what killed the alchemist in 1601, whose observations of celestial bodies laid the foundations for modern astronomy and his assistant Johannes Kepler's later fame.
    Speculation has long centred around three theories. Brahe -- who worked at the Prague court of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II and is a popular figure in Czech and Danish history -- was murdered, became ill or simply ingested too much of a toxic substance such as mercury in the course of his experiments.
    But scientists involved in the investigation pointed out it will take time for the reason behind the famed astrologer's death to be known.
    "Of course it is impossible to solve this problem as scientists. In our field we can do some analysis and then we can give some questions but murder series is not the direct goal for our investigation," said team leader, Jens Vellev.
    "From those three varieties - chronic poisoning by mercury, rash poisoning (murder) by mercury I would gladly choose the third one - which would say us that Tycho de Brahe died healthy," added Archaeologist Zdenek Dragoun.
    Tycho Brahe's remains were returned to his coffin, which was then transferred to Our Lady Before Tyn Church in Prague.
    A holy mass was held in the church where those among the congregation included the Danish Cultural Minster.
    At the end of the mass the small silver coffin was placed back in its tomb inside the church.
    The Czech Academy of Sciences tested bone and hair samples taken from Brahe's remains in the Our Lady Before Tyn Church in Prague's medieval Old Town Square.
    They were due to look for mercury and other substances that could shed light on the cause of his death. Some presence of mercury was shown by earlier analysis of his facial hair.
    Scientists said longer-term exposure to poison would indicate Brahe may have died from self-administered "medicine" or too much exposure from his experiments.
    However, high concentrations of a toxic substance near the hair root could indicate a big one-time dose of poison.
    One murder theory says that Brahe was killed on the orders of Danish King Christian IV who he had fallen out with or that his now more famous assistant Johannes Kepler murdered him to get his hands on Brahe's astronomic observations.
    An illness causing kidney failure is another possibility for a colourful character, who wore a prosthetic nose said to have been made of precious metal to hide the loss of the bridge of his real nose in a duel.
    One popular legend says Brahe, also said to have enjoyed a party or two, died after a dinner where his bladder burst because etiquette prevented him from leaving the table attended by the king. Doctors have said that theory doesn't hold water.
    The final research report will be published in specialist press in Denmark and the Czech Republic next year.
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