Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods
Mummification: Its Development and Legacy From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods
Blog Article
Mummification describes how in which the skin and flesh of a deceased person can remain intact. This method of keeping bodies intact can happen through natural means or be done intentionally by humans. Natural mummification occurs under specific conditions, such as extreme cold, acidic bogs, or arid conditions. One of the most famous forms of intentional mummification originated in Egyptian civilization, where corpses were wrapped in bandages to prevent decay and preserve the body for the journey to the afterlife.
Preserved bodies, both human and animal, have been unearthed in many parts of the world, often due to natural preservation or cultural practices. In Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been uncovered, many of them cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. Egyptians would extract the brain via the nostrils, and removed all major internal organs, leaving only the heart. This was due to the belief that the heart was central to the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. The removed organs were put into canopic jars, which were buried with the mummy.
Today, mummification is being used differently as part of 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." Breathing is allowed through exposed nostrils for breathing. The wrapping materials range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Although this practice shares the name, its purpose in BDSM is focused on restraint and control instead of maintaining the body's condition.
**Conclusion**
Mummification has undergone vast changes from its beginning in ancient burial rituals to contemporary practices within BDSM subcultures. Though its ancient goal focused on preserving the body for eternity, the contemporary practice centers on role-playing. Despite the differences, both forms of mummification reveal a fascination with control, whether it is over death or within social relationships.