Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

Blog Article

The art of preserving bodies refers to the method in which the tissues of a dead body are preserved. This preservation can occur naturally or be carried out by humans. Bodies are naturally preserved under specific conditions, such as extreme cold, high acidity, or dry environments. A notable type of intentional mummification is from Egyptian civilization, where corpses were wrapped in bandages to preserve their bodies and keep the body for the journey to the afterlife.

Preserved bodies, whether human or animal, have been found on every continent, often because of natural preservation or intentional rituals. Within Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been uncovered, many of them cats. The process of Egyptian mummification was rich in ritual. They removed the brain via the nostrils, and extracted most internal organs, except for the heart. This was because the heart was crucial for the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. The other organs were stored in canopic jars, which were laid to rest with the body.

In modern times, mummification is being used differently within certain BDSM communities. Here, the concept of mummification is part of role-playing scenarios, where one person, playing the role of the "slave," is wrapped tightly by another, the "master." The nose is left uncovered to ensure oxygen flow. The materials used for this wrapping can include duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Although this practice is still called mummification, in the BDSM context centers around restraint and control instead of preserving the body.

**To conclude**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its origins in ancient Egyptian death practices to contemporary practices in alternative lifestyles. Though its ancient goal was to preserve the body for the afterlife, the contemporary practice is about control and role-play. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification reveal a fascination with control, whether it is over death or within social relationships.