The History and Transformation of Mummification From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

The History and Transformation of Mummification From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

Blog Article

The art of preserving bodies is the process in which the skin and flesh of a deceased person can remain intact. This preservation can occur naturally or be performed through human intervention. Natural mummification happens in certain environments, such as freezing temperatures, acidic environments, or dry environments. A notable type of intentional mummification is from Egyptian history, where corpses were encased in bandages to preserve their bodies and maintain the corpse for the journey to the afterlife.

Mummies, both human and animal, have been unearthed in many parts of the world, often resulting from natural preservation or cultural practices. In Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been uncovered, a significant number being cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. Egyptians would extract the brain via the nostrils, and extracted most internal organs, keeping only the heart inside the body. This was because the heart played a key role in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. All other organs were put into canopic jars, which were buried with the mummy.

Today, mummification is being used differently as part of certain BDSM practices. Here, the concept of mummification is part of role-playing scenarios, where one person, referred to as the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Breathing is allowed through exposed nostrils for breathing. The items used to wrap the body can include duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Though the activity is still called mummification, in the BDSM context centers around controlling the body instead of preserving the body.

**In summary**

Mummification has transformed from its beginning in early death rituals to present-day practices in subcultures like BDSM. While the traditional purpose was to preserve the body for eternity, the modern interpretation is about control and role-play. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether it is over death or within social relationships.