The History and Transformation of Mummification From Ancient Egypt to Modern Practices

The History and Transformation of Mummification From Ancient Egypt to Modern Practices

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The art of preserving bodies describes how through which the skin and flesh of a corpse can be preserved. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be done intentionally by humans. Natural mummification occurs in certain environments, such as freezing temperatures, high acidity, or dry environments. A notable type of intentional mummification is from Egyptian civilization, where the dead were covered in bandages to stop decomposition and maintain the corpse for the afterlife.

Mummified remains, whether human or animal, have been discovered all over the globe, often due to natural preservation or cultural practices. Throughout Egypt, over one million animal mummies have been found, including a large number of cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. Egyptians would extract the brain through the nose, and removed all major internal organs, leaving only the heart. This was due to the belief that the heart was central to the ceremony in the afterlife. The removed organs were stored in canopic jars, which were laid to rest with the body.

In contemporary practices, mummification has taken on a new form in certain BDSM subcultures. Here, the concept of mummification is used in a role-playing context, where one person, referred to as the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." Breathing is allowed through exposed nostrils for breathing. The materials used for this wrapping range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Though the activity is still called mummification, in the BDSM context is focused on domination and restraint instead of preserving the body.

**To conclude**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its origins in ancient burial rituals to modern-day practices in subcultures like BDSM. While the traditional purpose was to preserve the body for eternity, the contemporary practice focuses on power dynamics. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification reveal a fascination with control, whether it is over death or within social relationships.