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

Mummification is the process by which the body of a corpse are preserved. This preservation can occur naturally or be done intentionally by humans. Natural mummification occurs in certain environments, such as glacial climates, acidic environments, or dry environments. A notable type of intentional mummification is from Egyptian civilization, where the deceased were wrapped in bandages to preserve their bodies and preserve the body for the next world.

Mummies, including humans and animals, have been found on every continent, often because of natural preservation or intentional rituals. Throughout Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been discovered, including a large number of cats. The Egyptian mummification techniques 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 Egyptians believed the heart was crucial for the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. The removed organs were placed in canopic jars, which were included in the burial.

Today, mummification has taken on a new form as part of certain BDSM communities. Here, the idea of mummifying is used in a role-playing context, where one person, playing the role of the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." The nose is left uncovered for breathing. The items used to wrap the body vary from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice shares the name, in the BDSM context centers around restraint and control rather than preserving the body.

**In summary**

Mummification has transformed from its beginning in ancient burial rituals to modern-day practices in subcultures like BDSM. Though its ancient goal focused on preserving the body for the afterlife, today's version centers on role-playing. Despite the differences, both forms of mummification reflect a deep human interest in control, whether it is over death or in controlling others.