Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Ancient Egypt to Modern Practices

Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Ancient Egypt to Modern Practices

Blog Article

The art of preserving bodies refers to the method in which the tissues of a deceased person can remain intact. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be carried out by humans. Natural mummification happens under specific conditions, such as extreme cold, high acidity, or dry environments. One well-known example of intentional mummification comes from Egyptian history, where corpses were encased in bandages to prevent decay and maintain the corpse for the journey to the afterlife.

Mummified remains, whether human or animal, have been discovered in many parts of the world, often because of natural preservation or cultural practices. Within Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been uncovered, a significant number being cats. The process of Egyptian mummification was rich in ritual. Egyptians would extract the brain through the nose, and removed all major internal organs, except for the heart. This was because Egyptians believed the heart was crucial for the afterlife rituals. The removed organs were put into canopic jars, which were included in the burial.

In contemporary practices, mummification is being used differently in certain BDSM practices. Here, the idea of mummifying is part of role-playing scenarios, where one person, playing the role of the "slave," is wrapped tightly by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed for breathing. The wrapping materials range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice is still called mummification, in this case centers around domination and restraint rather than preserving the body.

**Conclusion**

Mummification has transformed from its origins in ancient Egyptian death practices to present-day practices in subcultures like BDSM. Although its original intention was to preserve the body for the journey to the next life, the contemporary practice centers on role-playing. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification reflect a deep human interest in control, whether over death or in controlling others.