( Embalm- Taxidermy )

Generally, it is the preservation of dead bodies.

Ancient Egyptians were the first to apply this kind of practice in olden times.  They wanted to protect the bodies of their dead from decomposition, and preserve the outward appearance of the dead and keep their features

In doing that, they were driven by religious reasons; they believed that soul returns to the body after death, and then the dead continues  his afterlife in the other world.  They also thought that souls might loose their way if the bodies decomposed and rotted.  That is why they were very careful to keep the bodies in good condition.  This explains why we always find some objects buried with the dead like gold and vessels and food.  They believed that the dead would find them and continue his afterlife.

Embalming deals with the process of preserving the skin of different animals with their covering, whether feathers or scales or fur, to keep some of their natural features.  The skins so preserved are usually used as samples for scientific and study purposes or for display in museums.

Embalming has developed to be an acclaimed art.  It once was mere stuffing of the body.  Now it has grown to be an art that is studied, it has its own rules and techniques. 

It is the drying of the body of all liquids and removing every piece of meat to prevent bacteria from feeding upon them and rotting them.