The History and Transformation of Mummification From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods

The History and Transformation of Mummification From Ancient Traditions to Contemporary Methods

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Mummification refers to the method in which the tissues of a dead body can remain intact. This method of keeping bodies intact may happen naturally or be done intentionally by humans. Natural mummification happens under specific conditions, such as freezing temperatures, acidic environments, or dry climates. A notable type of intentional mummification is from ancient Egypt, where corpses were wrapped in bandages to preserve their bodies and maintain the corpse for the next world.

Preserved bodies, both human and animal, have been unearthed on every continent, often because of natural preservation or cultural practices. Within Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been uncovered, a significant number being cats. The method of mummification in ancient Egypt was highly ceremonial. Egyptians would extract the brain via the nostrils, and extracted most internal organs, keeping only the heart inside the body. This was because Egyptians believed the heart was crucial for the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. 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 practices. Here, the practice of wrapping the body is used in a role-playing context, where one person, playing the role of the "slave," is completely wrapped by another, the "master." The nose is left uncovered to ensure oxygen flow. The materials used for this wrapping can include duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Although this practice shares the name, in the BDSM context is primarily about domination and restraint and not about preservation.

**Conclusion**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its beginning in ancient burial rituals to contemporary practices within BDSM subcultures. While the traditional purpose was to preserve the body for the journey to the next life, the modern interpretation focuses on power dynamics. Even though they are different, both forms of mummification demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether controlling life or death or through interpersonal dynamics.