Grayson West
Ancient customs often reveal the most startling truths about human nature. In times when science and superstition blurred, people sought healing in ground-up remains, drank fresh blood for vitality, and even feasted on their kind. Unwrapping mummies became entertainment, and stolen bones turned into medicine. These unsettling traditions shaped history in ways few remember.
Consuming The Departed
Some cultures practiced endocannibalism, consuming the remains of their loved ones to keep them spiritually close. The Wari people of Brazil once performed this ritual, believing burial was cruel. Instead, family members shared the body in a final act of love. The practice faded as outside influences reshaped traditions.
Mummies As Medicinal Ingredients
European apothecaries sold powdered mummy remains as medicine well into the 18th century. Known as “Mumia,” it was believed to cure headaches, bruises, and even epilepsy. The demand grew so intense that sellers resorted to deception, using the remains of executed criminals and passing them off as centuries-old relics.
Unwrapping Parties As A Social Trend
In the 19th century, wealthy people purchased ancient bodies and unwrapped them in front of fascinated audiences. Hosted by scholars and collectors, these gatherings mixed education with eerie entertainment. Once the wrappings were removed, the remains were often discarded, turning ancient relics into little more than forgotten curiosities rather than objects of respect.
Blood As A Healing Potion
In the Renaissance era, execution sites drew eager crowds who believed that drinking the fresh blood of the condemned could cure ailments and restore vitality. Warm blood was believed to contain life-giving energy and cure epilepsy and other disorders. Physicians of the time even documented these gruesome treatments, lending them an unsettling air of legitimacy.
Bones And Skulls Turned Remedies
Grave robbers supplied an eager market for human bones, which were ground into powders and ingested as medicine. Skull fragments were a standard treatment for epilepsy, while crushed bones were believed to heal wounds. The macabre trade blurred the lines between science, superstition, and sheer desperation.
Wine And Tinctures For Strength
Apothecaries in the 16th and 17th centuries crafted medicinal elixirs by steeping mummies in alcohol, believing the infusion carried restorative properties. These tinctures were widely used, with both royalty and scholars endorsing their effectiveness in treating various ailments, further fueling the demand for ancient remains in medicine.
Human Remains As Elite Delicacy
European aristocrats once considered preserved flesh a rare and powerful remedy. This was also called “Mumia,” ground into powder and mixed into food or drinks. They believed it cured ailments and extended life. Physicians recommended it for everything from internal bleeding to epilepsy, turning ancient remains into sought-after commodities.
Sky Burials In Tibetan Culture
In the highlands of Tibet, sky burials reflect a profound belief in life’s impermanence. The deceased were placed atop sacred sites, where vultures consumed their remains. This ritual aligns with Buddhist teachings on detachment, ensuring the body nourishes other beings in the cycle of existence. While outsiders may find it unsettling, sky burials served as an act of generosity.
Trunyan’s Open-Air Corpse Rituals
Deep in Bali’s Trunyan village, the dead rest in the open air beneath a mystical Taru Menyan tree. Unlike traditional burials, bodies are not cremated or covered. Instead, they naturally decompose, yet the tree’s unique fragrance neutralizes any odor. This ancient practice preserves harmony between the living and the spirits, allowing nature to complete its cycle undisturbed.
Torajan Ma’nene Festival
Among the Torajan people of Indonesia, death was not the end but a continuing journey. Every few years, families exhume their ancestors, clean their bodies, dress them in fresh clothes, and parade them through the village in a ceremony called Ma’nene. This ritual strengthens bonds between the living and the departed, ensuring their presence remains woven into everyday life.