Pillows Through History

Pillows Through History

If sleep is important, almost everyone thinks the world of his head on a nice soft pillow. The pillow has a part of human history and has been instruMental in providing comfort. It 'became a sort of ubiquitous piece of furniture for every individual and every home.

The basic composition of the pillow has changed little over time. The pillow was mostly used by ancient Egyptians, though their use isthought to extend back to the Mesopotamian city-state era (7000 BCE). The Egyptians considered the head to be sacred, the veritable seat of life, and pillows were lavished with decorations to hold this precious body part.

When analyzing pillows from the past, it is fascinating to note that in Europe pillows were placed on top of a cylindrical bolster. The bolster, which ran the width of the bed, was placed between the mattress and the headboard to give the pillow something to rest upon. The pillows were leaned against the bolster, making it a common practice to sleep in a semi-reclined position.

In Asia, the pillow took on a vaguely different shape and significance. In China, specifically, it was believed the especially soft pillows robbed the body of vitality and energy. To remedy this, pillows were fashioned from hard materials, including leather, wood, and ceramics. In medieval Japan, noblewoMen enjoyed elaborate hAirdos, requiring customized pillows. To protect their hAirdos, they utilized "tall pillows," which were fundamentally stands made of wood that would cushion the backs of their necks and let their hAir hang free.

The history of pillows is the history of mankind. From simple stones, to stuffed sacks, to down pillows, to wooden stand, the pillow has taken on a range of forms. The basic function of the pillow is to provide comfort. Today pillows span the range from synthetic fibers, to down feathers, to memory foam.