Mummification describes how through which the body of a dead body can remain intact. This process of preservation may happen naturally or be performed through human intervention. Natural mummification occurs under specific conditions, such as extreme cold, high acidity, or arid conditions. One well-known example of intentional mummification is from Egyptian civilization, where corpses were wrapped in bandages to stop decomposition and maintain the corpse for the journey to the afterlife.
Mummies, both human and animal, have been discovered on every continent, often because of natural preservation or intentional rituals. In Egypt, in excess of a million mummified animals have been uncovered, many of them cats. The process of Egyptian mummification was rich in ritual. Egyptians would extract the brain through the nose, and removed all major internal organs, leaving only the heart. This was because Egyptians believed the heart was crucial for the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. All other organs were placed in canopic jars, which were included in the burial.
In contemporary practices, mummification is being used differently within certain BDSM communities. Here, the practice of wrapping the body has become a form of role-play, where one person, referred to as the "slave," is bound tightly by another, the "master." Breathing is allowed through exposed nostrils to allow for air. The items used to wrap the body range from duct tape, plastic wrap, to bandages. Although this practice is still called mummification, its purpose in BDSM is focused on controlling the body rather than preserving the body.
**To conclude**
Mummification has evolved significantly from its roots in ancient burial rituals to modern-day practices within BDSM subcultures. While the traditional purpose was to preserve the body for eternity, today's version is about control and role-play. Despite the differences, both forms of mummification demonstrate a shared human interest in mastery, whether over death or through interpersonal dynamics.