Last Updated on August 12, 2021 by
Nobody knows who made the first bed. By the bed, we mean a special article of household furniture designed for sleeping. The ancient Assyrians, Medes, and Persians already had beds that were quite elaborate. They were made of stone, wood, or metal, and were often quite beautifully decorated. The ancient Egyptians had wooden beds.
The beds had frames similar to ones made today. The Greek beds had a wooden frame with a board at the head, and there were bands of hide laced across it, upon which skins were placed. Later on, these beds became quite “fancy”. The bed frame was layered with expensive woods, or it was made of solid ivory with silver feet, or it would be made of bronze.
The Romans had bed frames that were high and could be reached only with the help of steps. They also probably had the first “double beds”, arranged for two persons. They had rich hangings and were elab- orately decorated. One Roman emperor had a bed of solid silver!
In the Middle Ages, many people slept on beds made by placing carpets on the floor or on a bench against the wall. Mattresses stuffed with feathers, wool, or hair were put on the carpets, and they would cover themselves with skins. Then in the thirteenth century, beds became more luxurious. Bed frames were made of wood, which was painted and ornamented.
Later on, a kind of bed appeared that was hung on the ceiling or fastened to the walls. And soon all kinds of large and elaborate beds were designed for the wealthier people, and the bed became an important part of the furnishing in a house.
When Did Humans Start Using Beds?
23-5 million years ago.
What is the oldest bed found?
Answer- Earliest known beds are 227,000-year-old piles of grass and ash.
Which part of Africa was the oldest bed reported?
Answer- The bedding had accumulated at the Sibudu Cave site in KwaZulu-Natal (map) over a period of 39,000 years, with the oldest mats dating to 77,000 years ago.
What were prehistoric beds like?
Answer- Basically, it consisted of layers of plant material gathered into mats, which were periodically burned, perhaps to eliminate pests. The bed was around 12-inches thick and a whopping 22 square feet, providing plenty of room for the entire family.
