Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods
Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods
Blog Article
The process of mummification refers to the method through which the skin and flesh of a corpse can be preserved. This process of preservation can happen through natural means or be done intentionally by humans. Natural mummification occurs in certain environments, such as extreme cold, acidic bogs, or arid conditions. A notable type of intentional mummification is from Egyptian history, where corpses were covered in bandages to stop decomposition and keep the body for the afterlife.
Preserved bodies, including humans and animals, have been unearthed in many parts of the world, often due to natural preservation or cultural practices. Throughout Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been discovered, including a large number of cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. They removed the brain using a hook through the nasal cavity, and took out most of the body's organs, leaving only the heart. This was because the heart played a key role in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. All other organs were put into canopic jars, which were included in the burial.
In contemporary practices, mummification has taken on a new form in certain BDSM subcultures. Here, the concept of mummification is part of role-playing scenarios, where one person, playing the role of the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Only the nostrils are left exposed for breathing. The materials used for this wrapping range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. While the practice is still called mummification, in the BDSM context is focused on domination and restraint instead of preservation.
**To conclude**
Mummification has undergone vast changes from its roots in ancient Egyptian death practices to modern-day practices within BDSM subcultures. Although its original intention focused on preserving the body for the afterlife, 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 within social relationships.