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

Wiki Article

The art of preserving bodies is the process through which the body of a dead body are preserved. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be done intentionally by humans. Bodies are naturally preserved in certain environments, such as glacial climates, acidic bogs, or dry environments. One of the most famous forms of intentional mummification comes from ancient Egypt, where corpses were encased in bandages to stop decomposition and preserve the body for the afterlife.

Mummies, both human and animal, have been discovered all over the globe, often because of natural preservation or ritualistic preservation. In Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been discovered, a significant number being cats. The Egyptian mummification techniques was rich in ritual. The brain was removed through the nose, and took out most of the body's organs, except for the heart. This was due to the belief that the heart played a key role in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. The removed organs were stored in canopic jars, which were included in the burial.

In modern times, mummification is being used differently as part of certain BDSM communities. Here, the practice of wrapping the body is part of role-playing scenarios, where one person, referred to as the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed to allow for air. The materials used for this wrapping range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Though the activity shares the name, its purpose in BDSM is focused on controlling the body rather than preserving the body.

**To conclude**

Mummification has transformed from its beginning in ancient Egyptian death practices to modern-day practices in alternative lifestyles. Though its ancient goal was about preserving the body for eternity, today's version focuses on power dynamics. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification reveal a fascination with control, whether it is over death or within social relationships.