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

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The art of preserving bodies is the process in which the tissues of a corpse can remain intact. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be carried out by humans. Bodies are naturally preserved under specific conditions, such as freezing temperatures, acidic bogs, or dry environments. One of the most famous forms of intentional mummification comes from Egyptian civilization, where corpses were encased in bandages to prevent decay and maintain the corpse for the journey to the afterlife.

Mummies, both human and animal, have been discovered all over the globe, often due to natural preservation or ritualistic preservation. Within Egypt, over one million animal mummies have been found, many of them cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. They removed the brain through the nose, and removed all major internal organs, keeping only the heart inside the body. This was because Egyptians believed the heart was crucial for the ceremony in the afterlife. The other organs were put into canopic jars, which were buried with the mummy.

In contemporary practices, mummification has evolved into a new practice as part of certain BDSM communities. Here, the concept of mummification has become a form of role-play, 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 wrapping materials vary from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice retains the term mummification, in this case centers around restraint and control rather than preserving the body.

**In summary**

Mummification has transformed 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 demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether over death or in controlling others.