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 process of mummification is the process in which the body of a corpse can remain intact. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be carried out by humans. Natural mummification happens when exposed to particular environments, such as extreme cold, acidic environments, or arid conditions. A notable type of intentional mummification comes from ancient Egypt, where the dead were wrapped in bandages to stop decomposition and maintain the corpse for the afterlife.

Mummies, both human and animal, have been found all over the globe, often because of natural preservation or ritualistic preservation. Throughout Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been found, many of them cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt 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 because the heart was central to the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. The other organs were put into canopic jars, which were included in the burial.

Today, mummification has evolved into a new practice within certain BDSM practices. Here, the practice of wrapping the body is part of role-playing scenarios, where one person, known as the "slave," is bound tightly by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed to allow for air. The wrapping materials range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Though the activity retains the term mummification, in this case is primarily about domination and restraint instead of maintaining the body's condition.

**In summary**

Mummification has evolved significantly from its origins in ancient Egyptian death practices to contemporary practices in alternative lifestyles. Although its original intention was about preserving the body for eternity, the contemporary practice is about control and role-play. Though these two forms differ, both forms of mummification reflect a deep human interest in control, whether over death or within social relationships.