The Art and Evolution of Mummification From Ancient Egypt to Modern Practices

The Art and Evolution of Mummification From Ancient Egypt to Modern Practices

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Mummification describes how by which the skin and flesh of a deceased person can remain intact. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be carried out by humans. Natural mummification occurs when exposed to particular environments, such as extreme cold, acidic environments, or dry environments. A notable type of intentional mummification comes from ancient Egypt, where the dead were covered in bandages to preserve their bodies and keep the body for the next world.

Mummified remains, whether human or animal, have been discovered all over the globe, often due to natural preservation or cultural practices. Within Egypt, more than a million animal mummies have been uncovered, many of them cats. The Egyptian mummification techniques was rich in ritual. Egyptians would extract the brain through the nose, and took out most of the body's organs, keeping only the heart inside the body. This was because the heart played a key role in the ceremony in the afterlife. The removed organs were stored in canopic jars, which were buried with the mummy.

In modern times, mummification has evolved into a new practice in certain BDSM subcultures. Here, the practice of wrapping the body is used in a role-playing context, where one person, referred to as the "slave," is bound tightly by another, the "master." The nose is left uncovered for breathing. The materials used for this wrapping vary from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Although this practice retains the term mummification, in this case centers around controlling the body instead of preservation.

**In summary**

Mummification has undergone vast changes from its origins in ancient Egyptian death practices to modern-day practices within BDSM subcultures. Although its original intention focused on preserving the body for the journey to the next life, the modern interpretation is about control and role-play. Despite the differences, both forms of mummification reveal a fascination with control, whether it is over death or within social relationships.