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From the earliest written records we have some knowledge of how people tried to make their sleeping spaces more comfortable. The earliest beds we know of, from around 8000 BC, were little more than simple piles of natural material such as straw or palm leaves.

An important change in the development of beds occurred when people decided to raise them from the ground. The reasons for this change were contextual; to avoid draughts, dirt and pests. The first examples of raised furniture were introduced in 3400 BC. As these beds came at a higher cost, though, they were available only to the wealthiest.

The ancient Egyptians developed beds with very tall bedsteads, which had to be reached by climbing steps. They had bolsters or pillows and elaborate curtains hung around them. Elite Egyptian beds were carved from wood and sometimes even gilded, often with a semi cylindrical head rest made of stone, wood or metal.

It is thought that the ancient Assyrians Medes and Persians all had beds of a similar kind, and also went so far as to decorate their
furniture with delicate inlays or appliqués. These could be of metal, mother of pearl or even ivory.

One record we have of an early bed is actually mentioned in the Bible, and a monster of a bed it is! King Og, the Bible says, had a very large bed measuring 13.5ft by 6ft. The bedstead was made of iron. Beds in ancient Greece had wooden frames with a board at the head and bands of hide laced across it. Skins were placed on top of this framework. At a later period in history the bedstead could be veneered with expensive woods. The most luxurious were of solid ivory, veneered with tortoise shell and with silver feet. Folding beds even appear in some Greek vase paintings!

Another bed mentioned in Greek mythology is the bed of Procrustes. Procrustes was a bandit who offered travellers the chance to lie in his magic bed: he boasted that no matter how tall or short you were, it would fit you perfectly. The catch was that if you were too small for the bed, he would stretch you to its length, and if you were too tall he would chop off your feet!

In ancient Rome, mattresses were stuffed with reeds, hay, wool or feathers. Feathers were used more towards the end of the Roman
Republic, when luxury was in demand. Small cushions were used for decoration at the head of the bed or placed at the back, and bedsteads were high and needed to be ascended via steps. Counterpanes on Roman beds could be very expensive, usually purple, the colour of high status, embroidered with figures in gold. Bedsteads themselves were usually of bronze inlaid with silver. Elagabalus reportedly had a bedstead of solid silver! Why not check online for similar looking beds to give that ancient world look in your bedroom, click here for more info.

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