Umbrellas seem like an ordinary object. We use them to avoid getting wet when it rains. How has this great invention changed over time?
The word ‘umbrella’ comes from the Latin word ‘umbra’ which means shadow or shade. Umbrellas are mostly used for protection against the rain. When it is used to create shade on a sunny day, the umbrella is called a parasol. This word comes from the French word ‘para’ which means protection.
Umbrellas have appeared all over the world in ancient cultures. In Ancient Egypt, the umbrella is depicted in temple paintings from 2450 BC. In Persia, there are sculptures from 2310 BC of a servant holding an umbrella over the king. Umbrellas appear in Indian legends and palaces. There is a ceramic from Europe that shows a man riding a chariot with an umbrella. In China, the umbrella was used to mark the importance of high-ranking people, such as the emperor. People in the Ashanti Empire used umbrellas in traditional dances and to recognize leaders during festivals. In Achaia, Greece there is a 4th century painting of a slave holding a parasol over a woman. The Aztec culture used the umbrella as a flag. In Thailand, royal people used a nine-tiered umbrella. All of these cultures had the image of an umbrella in their customs and art.
The first umbrella is thought to have been invented by a Chinese woman by tying together large leaves to a structure of branching-out ribs. In 3500 BC, Chinese umbrellas were made from animal skins stretched on bamboo sticks. Umbrellas in Ancient Egypt were made out of palm branches and leaves. During the first century, women in Rome made waterproof umbrellas by spreading oil on them. Only women used umbrellas in the 5th century. From 1880 to 1987, people wore ‘umbrella hats’ to keep themselves dry when it rained.
The first collapsible umbrella was found in the tomb of Wang Guang in China. This umbrella is from the first century. An umbrella that can open and close was found in Samos, Greece. This umbrella from 700 BC has a sliding mechanism that looks very similar to a modern umbrella. In the eighteenth century, Samuel Fox made steel umbrellas that could be extended. In 1828, Francis Beehler opened the first umbrella factory in the United States. In London, James Smith and Sons was the first umbrella shop and has been open since 1830. In 1928, Hans Haupt made a very small, collapsible, ”pocket” umbrella.
The umbrella is a very important invention. It has appeared in ancient cultures’ art and traditions. The umbrella has been made from many materials, from bamboo sticks and leaves to plastic and steel. Umbrellas have changed over time, but their purpose has always been the same. When it rains, people use umbrellas to keep dry. So next time it rains and you take out your umbrella, think about the history and people who have contributed to this great invention.
