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 process of mummification describes how by which the skin and flesh of a corpse are preserved. This method of keeping bodies intact may happen naturally or be done intentionally by humans. Natural mummification occurs in certain environments, such as extreme cold, high acidity, or dry environments. One well-known example of intentional mummification is from ancient Egypt, where the deceased were encased in bandages to prevent decay and keep the body for the journey to the afterlife.

Mummified remains, whether human or animal, have been unearthed in many parts of the world, often resulting from natural preservation or ritualistic preservation. Throughout Egypt, over one million animal mummies have been discovered, a significant number being cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. The brain was removed through the nose, and extracted most internal organs, except for the heart. This was due to the belief that the heart was central to the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. All other organs were placed in canopic jars, which were included in the burial.

In contemporary practices, mummification has taken on a new form as part of certain BDSM subcultures. Here, the practice of wrapping the body has become a form of role-play, where one person, playing the role of the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed for breathing. The materials used for this wrapping vary from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice retains the term mummification, in the BDSM context centers around domination and restraint and not about preservation.

**To conclude**

Mummification has evolved significantly from its roots in early death rituals to modern-day practices in alternative lifestyles. While the traditional purpose was to preserve the body for the journey to the next life, the modern interpretation centers on role-playing. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether over death or within social relationships.