The History and Transformation of Mummification From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods

The History and Transformation of Mummification From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods

Blog Article

The art of preserving bodies describes how through which the body of a deceased person can remain intact. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be performed through human intervention. Natural mummification occurs under specific conditions, such as freezing temperatures, acidic environments, or dry environments. One of the most famous forms of intentional mummification is from Egyptian civilization, where corpses were covered in bandages to prevent decay and preserve the body for the journey to the afterlife.

Mummified remains, both human and animal, have been discovered on every continent, often resulting from natural preservation or intentional rituals. Within Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been uncovered, a significant number being cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. Egyptians would extract the brain via the nostrils, and extracted most internal organs, leaving only 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.

Today, mummification has taken on a new form in certain BDSM subcultures. Here, the idea of mummifying is used in a role-playing context, where one person, known as the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed to allow for air. The items used to wrap the body vary from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Though the activity retains the term mummification, in the BDSM context is primarily about domination and restraint instead of maintaining the body's condition.

**Conclusion**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its beginning in ancient burial rituals to modern-day practices in alternative lifestyles. While the traditional purpose was to preserve the body for the afterlife, the modern interpretation focuses on power dynamics. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether over death or within social relationships.