When you think of pillows, you think of relaxing in your comfortable bed. Pillows provide support and cushioning for your head and neck, and they help you sleep better. Although pillows have been around for many years, they haven\u2019t always been the same as they are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first known pillows were in Mesopotamia, which is modern-day Iraq, in 7000 BC. They were made of stone and supported the head and neck, but they weren\u2019t very comfortable. Only the wealthy had pillows, and their purpose was to keep insects out of their ears, noses, and mouths while they were sleeping. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout history, the pillow evolved into what it is today. Continue reading to learn all about that process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, we'll cover:<\/p>\n
The first known pillows in 7000 BC were made of stone, and the Mesopotamians used them to prevent bugs and insects from entering the mouth, nose, and eyes during sleep. In ancient Egypt, pillows were made of stone, as well as marble, ceramic, ivory, and wood. These pillows were carved with images of gods, and they rested the heads of people who had died on them to protect them from bad spirits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ancient Chinese civilization also used pillows, and they were made of stone, bamboo, wood, jade, porcelain, and bronze. They decorated them with pictures of people, plants, and animals. They also believed that there were health benefits for people who used pillows, and they varied depending on the materials used. They used hard pillows to bring health and intelligence to people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Japan, the Geishas used pillows, but they were smaller and still hard. They used them to keep their neck elevated when they were sleeping. This way, their hairstyle would remain perfectly intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first civilizations to use soft pillows were those of ancient Greece and Rome. They took a cloth and filled it with cotton, straw, or reeds, and the wealthy citizens filled them with down feathers. This type of pillow is more similar to what people use today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the Middle Ages, most of the progress and advances of mankind slowed, and this included pillows. Pillows were not commonly used during the Middle Ages in Europe. It was expensive, so only the wealthiest people could use them, and King Henry VIII actually banned its use for everyone with the exception of women who were pregnant. Men viewed pillows as a tool for the weak, so they didn\u2019t want to use them. This lasted until the 16th century when the pillow became more widely used again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the Industrial Revolution came in the 19th century, everyone had a pillow. Pillows were mass-produced, and they were more affordable. The advances in technology helped bring about these changes. During the Victorian period in England, decorative pillows for furniture were produced. Once pillows became standard in every home, many improvements were made to protect them and make them more supportive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this time, it became normal to have a pillow on the bed, and people also had them on chairs and sofas for decoration. The first-world countries had good pillows that were made from cotton and synthetic materials. They stuffed them with cotton, polyester, down, foam, latex, and more. They were more comfortable, and they tried to make them more sanitary as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In modern times, pillows have evolved into many different forms. There are different shapes, including standard pillows, boudoir pillows, neckroll pillows, doughnut pillows, body pillows<\/a>, and more. In addition, there are different types of fill, including latex, memory foam, goose down, and cool-gel. No matter what size or shape your body is, there is a pillow that can help you sleep better<\/a> and more comfortably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n