The ancient Egyptians utilized headrests to support a person's neck while sleeping. While the flat base board and curving top are constant elements, the center section's shape varies. This style is quite uncommon, with six slender rods supporting the curving top. The center section is usually made of wood but may also be of stone or metal.
There are two different types of headrests in use today: the pharaonic and the modern. The pharaonic headrest is similar to the one used by the Egyptians, except that it has three rather than six supports. It is still used in some African countries such as Senegal and Mali for bedding.
The modern headrest consists of a wooden block supported on four legs. It is used throughout most of the world but particularly in North America.
Headrests can be constructed out of many materials including steel, wood, and plastic. However, only wooden headrests are designed to be taken off and put back on. This is important because it allows for cleaning or replacement of the material used.
People who sleep on headrests may experience neck pain or stiffness due to improper positioning of the head when lying down or getting up. Sleeping on a headrest may also affect your quality of sleep if it causes you to toss and turn or if its design does not allow for comfortable sleeping.
Beds were built of wood and were generally inclined or curved to keep the sleeper from sliding off. Egyptians slept with their heads resting on headrests, which were typically cushioned. Mattresses packed with reeds or straw rested atop a wooden frame. The bedspread was usually a linen sheet wrapped around a pole and spread out on the ground.
Egyptians also used blankets made of cotton and linen. These were often embroidered with colored threads and designed with images that may have had religious meaning for the Egyptians. Blankets were used both inside and outside Egypt, even in the coldest climates, because they were easy to wash and wear again and again.
In ancient Egyptian culture, people always had something to sleep on. Even if they could afford cottons and linens, they wouldn't have known how to spin or weave those materials. So they used whatever was available locally: bark for bedding, leaves for mattresses, and stones for headrests.
The ancient Egyptians made many different types of beds, but the two most common were the storied bed and the sleeping mat. The storied bed was an expensive piece of furniture made of wood and inlaid with ivory or stone. It consisted of a flat base supported by four legs. A hole at the center of the base allowed water to drain away.
The pharaoh's beds, like modern-day bedframes, were built of wood, stone, or pottery and, like every other bed in Africa at the time, featured headrests instead of cushions. These beds were somewhat worn, consisting of a frame with reeds weaved between the four corners to provide a sleeping surface. The pharaoh slept on a mattress placed on the ground beside his bed.
Pharaohs were buried with many valuable possessions, including beds. The Egyptians believed that people came into this world ready to go and that they needed food, water, and rest to keep healthy. Therefore, it was important for them to be laid out in a comfortable position with their arms by their sides. This would help them receive their daily needs without effort from anyone.
In the case of Pharaoh Ramses II (1279-1213 B.C.), who had several hundred pieces of jewelry and over 20 large statues made of gold, silver, and copper, among other things, it is estimated that the value of his estate totaled more than $5 billion in today's money. This means that even though he was one of the most powerful men in Egypt, he was not so rich that he could afford a luxury hotel room!
Ramses II was said to have died at the age of 50 while on a military campaign against the Hittites in present-day Turkey. However, some historians believe that he was poisoned because of political turmoil within the kingdom.
Almost all Egyptian furniture was low to the ground, with animal feet carved into the legs. Slanted beds were covered in cushions or inflated mattresses. Chairs were designed like stools, with backs and armrests denoting excessive wealth or position. Tables were made of wood or stone and used for eating, playing games, or doing business affairs.
In ancient Egypt, furniture was made of wood, with the exception of some items such as the bed which was usually made of iron. Wood is very flexible and can be shaped into any design you want. The Egyptians had a variety of tools to carve different parts of the wood item. For example, they used axes to cut down trees and saws to make certain shapes out of wood.
There are several pieces of ancient Egyptian furniture that remain today. For example, there are two famous chairs carved from one single tree that are on display at the British Museum: one chair is decorated with animals and another with plants. Also, there are tables, chests, and beds that have been preserved.
The type of wood that was available to the Egyptians would determine what kind of furniture they could create. For example, palm trees were used to make chairs that were comfortable to sit in but not so nice to look at. Wooden boxes wrapped in linen were used to store valuables.
Egyptian headdresses were worn by gods and pharaohs to distinguish them from the common people and to indicate their significance. No commoners were ever permitted to wear headdresses or caps. The headdress of a god was often much more magnificent than that of a king.
The ancient Egyptians believed that everyone had a unique personality and spirit, so they decorated their heads in order to show respect to these spirits.
Besides showing respect, the headdress also had religious reasons for being there. For example, priests would wear headdresses because without their masks it would be impossible to perform their rituals.
Finally, kings wore headpieces because it was considered a great honor. If a king weren't wearing one, then he didn't consider himself worthy enough to be respected.
In conclusion, Egyptian kings and gods wore headpieces because it showed who was superior and who was not. This concept was very important in a society where status was given away through wealth and power.