Haydn's Head?

By Crusader1307

Viennese Composer Joseph Haydn was a noted Musician, whose works are still appreciated today. But with His death in 1809, a rather bizarre ‘’journey’’ began for His remains – namely His Head. You see, Haydn’s head was stolen (under the auspices of Science). It would take nearly 145 years before it was reunited with His remains. A common Medical Belief was in the so-called Science known as Phrenology. The concept stated that various medical conditions relating to emotions, intelligence (or lack of), could be physically seen by examining the skull of a person (post mortem). To establish Haydn’s ‘’genius’’, several German Physicians paid a Graverobber to dig up and remove Haydn’s Head!. However, seeing that the head may be worth more money, The Gravedigger kept the gruesome trophy and tried to extort more funds. Failing, He left the head to be discovered by the Doctors who had hired Him. Denuded of any remining tissue (the head was in an extreme state of decomposition), it was studied. Eventually, Haydn’s head would pass from collector to collector of Phrenology. From 1932 until 1954, The Skull survived World Wars and other calamities. It was purchased by a Hungarian Prince and finally restored with Hadyn’s remains. But oddly, Hadyn actually has ‘’two skulls’’. You see, after the missing head was discovered, a replica skull was put in place – and remained with the body. Whereas this skull served – it was seen as ‘’part of Hadyn’’ nonetheless and left next to The Composer’s original reunited one.