
When did humans start using pillows?
While the idea of pillows being a soft place to rest your head is not a new concept, it certainly wasn’t its original purpose. So far as we know, the earliest pillows date back over 9,000 years to Mesopotamia, or modern day Iraq. Formed from stone, the top was carved in a half-moon shape to support the neck.
When were heated couches invented?
The grandfather of modern sleeper sofas was the product of the American dream.Bernard Castro was an Italian who immigrated to the U.S. in 1919. After spending much of his spare time in New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art studying the furniture on display, Castro began building his own brand of sleeper sofas in 1931.
When were football shoulder pads invented?
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When were paper towels first invented?
Paper towels have become commonly used elements today, but their history dates to 1879 when Clarence and Irvin Scott – two brothers from Philadelphia founded their paper company. They began to manufacture tissue papers and 1000 sheets were part of a roll, which was sold for ten cents each. The item was first considered for medical use and ...

What country invented pillows?
MesopotamiaMesopotamia and ancient Egypt The earliest recorded use of the modern human device dates back to the civilizations of Mesopotamia around 7,000 BC. During this time, only the wealthy used pillows. The number of pillows symbolized status so the more pillows one owned the more affluence they held.
Who invented the first pillow?
Pillows were invented by the Mesopotamians in 7000 BC. Unlike the modern ones, pillows of the ancient world were made of stone.
When was the pillow discovered?
The history of the pillow dates back to around 7,000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq. These pillows were made of stone and obviously weren't comfortable, although comfort wasn't really their purpose. The function of the stone pillow was to prevent insects from crawling into mouths, noses, and ears.
Did ancient Egyptians use pillows?
CAIRO – 23 May 2022: Humans have known sleep on soft pillows 2000 years ago, but the ancient Egyptians used to rest their heads on pillows made of stone. The ancient Egyptian pillow stand, commonly called the headrest, was designed to keep the head elevated while sleeping.
Did ancient Greece have pillows?
The ancient Greeks and Romans had a slightly better idea of comfort, stuffing their pillows with cotton, reeds, or straw. Although these pillows were nothing like the ones we sleep with today, they were on the path towards modern pillows.
Where are pillows made?
Pillows are still manufactured in great quantities in the United States. They are also produced outside the country, but pillows are generally not imported to the United States. Shipping is measured by volume and pillows are extraordinarily expensive to ship.
What pillows do Japanese use?
Sobakawa PillowThe Pillow: Claims: The Sobakawa Pillow is filled with 100-percent buckwheat hulls. It has been used extensively throughout the Orient for hundreds of years and is still the pillow of choice in Japan. Buckwheat hulls are believed to offer therapeutic benefits far superior to traditional foam and feather pillows.
How did we sleep before pillows?
Before the days of Tempur-Pedic and Casper, humans slept on makeshift sleeping surfaces like piles of straw. As society advanced, primitive mattresses were fashioned out of stuffed fabrics, and down was introduced. Bedframes came much later but have still been around since the ancient Egyptians era.
Why do humans need pillows?
Pillows are important because they keep the head aligned with the neck and backbone during sleep. If a person's spine or neck is not in a neutral position, they may wake up during the night, causing sleep loss. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the goal should be to keep the head in a neutral position.
How long did Egyptians sleep for?
Typically, they went to sleep three hours and 20 minutes after sunset and woke before sunrise. And they slept through the night. The result of these sleep patterns: Nearly no one suffered from insomnia.
How do you sleep like an Egyptian?
0:050:44The Egyptian Sleep Method - Verlo Mattress - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBill the ancient Egyptians had a way to keep cool during those hot summer nights to try theMoreBill the ancient Egyptians had a way to keep cool during those hot summer nights to try the Egyptians. Sleep method soak a blanket in cold water and run it through the spin cycle of your washing.
How did Egyptian pillows work?
Formed from stone, the top was carved in a half-moon shape to support the neck. The idea obviously wasn't comfort, at least not immediate comfort. The basic function of the pillow was to keep the head off the ground and prevent insects from crawling into mouths, noses, and ears.
What were pillows made of?
While the Chinese decorated their pillows much more ornately, they were still made of hard objects—porcelain, stone, bronze, bamboo, or wood. Today, these pillows are sought after by collectors because of their beautiful and elaborate decorations.
Why were pillows made of stone?
In fact, it is said that these stone pillows were made to help keep bugs from crawling into the ears of wealthier citizens. The ancient Chinese had a similar idea.
Do pillows evolve?
Pillows continue to evolve every day. From gel pillows, to boyfriend pillows, there is a pillow out there for everyone. I’m sure someone could even dig up one of those hard pillows to keep your hair set at night, if that’s your thing.
Did people sleep on pillows in the Middle Ages?
Of course, the Middle Ages soon arrived and halted most of the advancements human beings had been making—including pillows. Apparently, you could not even rest your head on a pillow the night before the weekly stretching or toe wedging.
Is finding the perfect pillow hard?
Finding the perfect pillow is hard, but I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been going through stacks of hay to find the perfect bundle to sleep on. Throughout history, pillows have evolved nearly as much as mattresses have, and they can tell us quite a bit about the history of sleep as well. Geisha used small, hard pillows ...
Where were pillows made?
Unlike our squishy modern pillows, these ancient relics were made from stone. Yes, cold, hard stone. They were used not for head and neck support, but to protect the head from insects. By raising the head away from the ground at night, fewer creepy crawlies would make their way into the ears, nose, and mouth.
What were Egyptian pillows made of?
In ancient Egypt, pillows were made from many types of hard materials, including ivory, marble, stone, wood, and ceramic. Yet, their purpose appears to be a bit different than those of Mesopotamian pillows. With religious carvings, they held a religious purpose for ancient Egyptian people and were often used in tombs.
What is the diversification of pillows?
The Diversification of the Soft Pillow. Modern day pillows come in a variety of materials. Some are firm, others are soft. Some are made from natural materials, others are synthetic. This diversification of pillow materials began in the 1900’s.
Why was polyester the most popular textile in the 1950s?
Polyester filling was popular during the 1950’s, offering a variety of firmness levels and allowing people to choose how soft their pillow was based on personal preference.
Why were soft pillows banned?
Soft pillows became viewed as a sign of weakness and King Henry VIII banned them for anyone except pregnant women. There was a gradual loosening of this policy, with soft pillows becoming more widespread by the 16th century.
When was memory foam invented?
Memory foam made its debut in the 1970’s . This material was first created by NASA as a way to improve crash protection and seat comfort in airplanes. Now it’s one of the most popular materials used for pillows and bedding thanks to its ability to contour to any shape. Today, there are seemingly endless types of pillows.
Do soft pillows rob you of energy?
Different materials served different purposes, so your hard pillow would match your needs. Soft pillows, on the other hand, were said to rob you of your energy. And if you time traveled to Japan, you would find yet another purpose for these hard, ultra-supportive pillows: protecting hairdos.
When were pillows invented?
The earliest recorded use of the modern human device dates back to the civilizations of Mesopotamia around 7,000 BC. During this time, only the wealthy used pillows. The number of pillows symbolized status so the more pillows one owned the more affluence they held. Pillows have long been produced around the world in order to help solve the reoccurring problem of neck, back, and shoulder pain while sleeping. Besides for comfort, the pillow was also used for keeping bugs and insects out of people's hair, mouth, nose, and ears while sleeping.
When did Chinese pillows start to be used?
Chinese ceramic pillows reached their peak in terms of production and use during the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties between the 10th and 14th century, but slowly phased out during the Ming and Qing dynasties between 1368 and 1911 with the emergence of better pillow making materials.
What are the different types of pillows?
There are three main types of pillows; bed pillows, orthopedic pillows and decorative pillows, with some overlapping of use between these. The appropriate size of a bed pillow depends on the size of the bed. Larger pillows than standard are available for queen- and king-sized beds.
What type of pillows did the Romans use?
The Romans and Greeks of ancient Europe mastered the creation of the softer type pillow. These pillows were stuffed with reeds, feathers, and straw in order to make them softer and more comfortable. Only upper-class people typically owned these softer pillows; however, all classes of people were allowed to use some type of pillow while sleeping, lying down or sitting in order to give them support. People in ancient Europe started to use pillows when going to church in order to kneel on while praying and to place holy books on. This is a tradition that still lives on today. In addition, the Romans and Greeks used their pillows by placing them under the head of those deceased just like the ancient Egyptians did.
What is a pillow that supports the head and neck?
Pillows that aid sleeping are a form of bedding that supports the head and neck. Other types of pillows are designed to support the body when lying down or sitting. There are also pillows that consider human body shape for increased comfort during sleep.
How long do pillows last?
The normal lifespan of a pillow is two to four years. Condition of the pillow can be determined by checking for lumps or folding it in order to see if stays in that shape. Replacement is recommended for sanitary reasons. All types of pillow covers should be laundered periodically since they are the part that is in contact with a person's body. Pillows accumulate dust and microbes among the fill, even when washable pillows are washed. Manufacturers recommend tumble-drying for fifteen minutes every week to freshen them up, and for the heat to kill dust mites. Charities in most countries will not accept used pillows due to hygiene regulations. While some animal shelters accept forms of bedding, most reject donation of used pillows due to the mess they can cause.
What is a Japanese pillow filled with?
A Japanese pillow filled with plastic tubes in a mesh sack. Ceiba pentandra, the fluffy, glossy fruit-fibres of silk-cotton tree is used as filler for traditional pillows in India. Pillows consist of a filler material enclosed in a fabric cover or shell.
When were pillows invented?
Although there is no clear inventor of the pillow, in ancient Mesopotamia of 7000 B.C., people slept on stone pillows under their heads. Pillows were a status symbol. Early pillows were rectangular and had grooves shaped for the head. The more pillows one owned, the wealthier they were.
Why did the Romans make pillows?
They made pillows with hard materials, because they believed soft pillows would steal energy. These pillows were decorated with glazed designs of nature. Ancient Romans and Greeks used pillows stuffed with feathers, straw or wool. The wealthy had elegantly embroidered pillows.
Why did Egyptians use pillows?
Ancient Egyptians used pillows as a solution to back, neck and shoulder pain, and pillows prevented insects from crawling in their mouth, nose or hair at night.
Why are hard pillows preferred in Chinese mythology?
But, according to Chinese mythology hard pillows were preferred because they help both with blood circulation and to keep the ancient demons away. Beautyrest, Tempur-Pedic and those comfortable pillows you steal from hotel rooms would have to overcome years of cultural bias before putting these hard pillow myths to rest.
What was the first wheel made of?
When man invented the wheel, it was made of stone and the carts that used this wheel provided for a very bumpy ride. The first pillows invented weren’t very comfortable either. Pharaoh’s of Egypt were buried with pillows in their tombs made out of wood, with curvature cut out that would fit their heads and neck.
What was the norm in the 1800s?
Eat, drink, sleep, repeat was the norm for many living in this culture. Now, in the 1800’s pillows had become common place. Every Tom, Dick and Harriet homesteading in the U. S. had some form of pillow to aid them in a quality sleep at night.
Can you lay your head on a pillow?
Sure you already know that pillows can go on your couch or bed. And you already know that you can lay your head on them and rest or even sleep in comfort with the right pillow.

The First Pillows: Made Out of Stone
The Advent of The Soft Pillow
- If you’re like me and you cannot imagine using a stone pillow, you have the ancient Greeks and Romans to thank. They were the first to start stuffing pillows with a variety of softer materials, such as cotton and straw. There were even down feather pillows, which most closely resemble the pillows that we use today. While this comfortable advancement lasted for hundreds of years…
The Diversification of The Soft Pillow
- Modern day pillows come in a variety of materials. Some are firm, others are soft. Some are made from natural materials, others are synthetic. This diversification of pillow materials began in the 1900’s. After much experimentation, polyester eventually overtook cotton as the textile of choice thanks to its lower manufacturing cost. Polyester filling was popular during the 1950’s, offering …
Overview
A pillow is a support of the body at rest for comfort, therapy, or decoration. Pillows are used by many species, including humans. Some types of pillows include throw pillows, body pillows, decorative pillows and many more. Pillows that aid sleeping are a form of bedding that supports the head and neck. Other types of pillows are designed to support the body when lying down or sitting. T…
History
Though the exact origin is unknown, use of pillows evolved in animals well into prehistory, the earliest examples including reptiles and mammals resting their heads on themselves, and one another, to support the head and neck. Animals, including humans, evolved use of inanimate objects in their nests out of wood and stone as pillows. Since domestication, many animals have also learned to …
Construction and parts
Pillows consist of a filler material enclosed in a fabric cover or shell. Covers are made of cloth, such as silk, known as the pillow case or pillow slip. Some pillows have a fancier cover called a sham which is closed on all sides and usually has a slit in the back through which the pillow is placed. Rectangular standard bed pillow cases usually do not have zippers, but instead, have one side open all th…
Lifespan, maintenance and waste management
The normal lifespan of a pillow is two to four years. Condition of the pillow can be determined by checking for lumps or folding it in order to see if stays in that shape. Replacement is recommended for sanitary reasons. All types of pillow covers should be laundered periodically since they are the part that is in contact with a person's body. Pillows accumulate dust and microbes among the fill, even when washable pillows are washed. Manufacturers recommend t…
Types
A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the body and head. There are three main types of pillows; bed pillows, orthopedic pillows and decorative pillows, with some overlapping of use between these. The appropriate size of a bed pillow depends on the size of the bed. Larger pillows than standard are available for queen- and king-sized beds.
Culture
In many parts of the world, pillows have cultural significance, and references have extended to a wide variety of other uses, forms and activities.
In some cultures, pillows have forms for hugging. An example is the Dakimakura, a kind of "hugging pillow" originating in Japan that have been endowed with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic qualities and pop culture references for add…
See also
• Bolster
• Duvet
• Mattress
• Sachet (scented bag)
• Upholstery