The Art and Evolution of Mummification From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

The Art and Evolution of Mummification From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

Blog Article

The process of mummification is the process through which the tissues of a deceased person are preserved. This method of keeping bodies intact can occur naturally or be performed through human intervention. Natural mummification happens under specific conditions, such as glacial climates, acidic bogs, or dry environments. A notable type of intentional mummification is from Egyptian civilization, where the dead were wrapped in bandages to preserve their bodies and preserve the body for the next world.

Preserved bodies, both human and animal, have been unearthed in many parts of the world, often because of natural preservation or ritualistic preservation. In Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been uncovered, many of them cats. The process of Egyptian mummification was rich in ritual. They removed the brain via the nostrils, and removed all major internal organs, leaving only the heart. This was because Egyptians believed the heart played a key role in the ceremony in the afterlife. All other organs were placed in canopic jars, which were laid to rest with the body.

Today, mummification is being used differently within certain BDSM practices. Here, the concept of mummification is used in a role-playing context, where one person, known as the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Breathing is allowed through exposed nostrils to allow for air. The materials used for this wrapping can include duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice retains the term mummification, in the BDSM context is primarily about restraint and control instead of maintaining the body's condition.

**To conclude**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its origins in ancient Egyptian death practices to present-day practices in subcultures like BDSM. Though its ancient goal was about preserving the body for the journey to the next life, the contemporary practice focuses on power dynamics. Despite the differences, both forms of mummification reflect a deep human interest in control, whether it is over death or through interpersonal dynamics.