Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Historical Rituals to Modern-Day Practices

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The art of preserving bodies refers to the method through which the body of a corpse can remain intact. This preservation can occur naturally or be performed through human intervention. Bodies are naturally preserved when exposed to particular environments, such as extreme cold, acidic bogs, or dry environments. One of the most famous forms of intentional mummification comes from Egyptian history, where the dead were covered in bandages to stop decomposition and preserve the body for the afterlife.

Mummified remains, whether human or animal, have been discovered in many parts of the world, often resulting from natural preservation or intentional rituals. Within Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been uncovered, including a large number of cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was very symbolic. The brain was removed via the nostrils, and removed all major internal organs, leaving only the heart. This was because the heart played a key role in the ceremony in the afterlife. All other organs were put into canopic jars, which were laid to rest with the body.

Today, mummification is being used differently in certain BDSM practices. Here, the practice of wrapping the body has become a form of role-play, where one person, referred to as the "slave," is bound tightly by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed to allow for air. The materials used for this wrapping can include duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice is still called mummification, its purpose in BDSM is focused on restraint and control and not about preserving the body.

**Conclusion**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its beginning in ancient Egyptian death practices to modern-day practices within BDSM subcultures. Although its original intention was about preserving the body for the afterlife, the contemporary practice centers on role-playing. Despite the differences, both forms of mummification demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether controlling life or death or within social relationships.