The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-05-31
l,HE ORIGIN OF BEDS
SLEEPING coucHss CAN BE TRACED
SACK TO 700 3. c.

they Were In Use by the Etruscans
and We're Mostly of stone, Term
Gotta and Mnrble-Bed Furnishings
OF the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
The Oldest bed in existence is a
bronze OF Etruscan manufacture dat
ing from the seventh century B. G.
This was found in excavations made
ut Goridon, in Asia Minor. and from
the fact that 1t is the only one of its
age ever unearthed among the many
otler pieces of furniture found in an
clent ruins the conclusion is drawn
that beds at this early era were a nov
city
1t is sure that previous to this there
Is no record Of the existence of beds
which may be taken as authority. Pre-
historic man evidently got long quite
well without any bed to Ii in, and it
was not until the life of ut urlans and
creeks began to verge int, compara-
tive sybarite luxury that Il bed as a
component part of the hou iehold was
universally recognized.
Even then the bed was more kin to
the modern couch than tho article in
Which civilized man today kes his re-
pose. According to Greek nd Roman
wall paintings, bas-reliefs and repro
auctions in sculpture, the original bed
was bench, often beautifully cary
ed and decorated bench and one cover
ed with costly draperles, but still in
form bench compared to the beds of
today. Many of them were made of
terra Gotta, some of marble, and then
there is the bronze specimen which is
still in use.
Etruscan wall paintings of the fifth
and sixth centuries B. @. show that
these couches were plentiful then. The
Etrurians builded well when they came
10 make beds, for most of the pictures
show them as made of stone, terra cot
Ia and marble being favorite materials.
In shape they were narrow, set on legs,
much like the couch of today, and piled
high with cushions. There were two
kinds of beds or couches in this peri
cd, one for reclining upon at mealtime
and the other for sleeping. In some in
stances the same couch was used for
both purposes.
With the early Greeks and Romans
the bed played more prominent part
in the life of the people than it does to-
day. Paintings from these times show
IL, l. al n in ont 70 ntnf ot
all mealtimes and banqueting scenes,
the persons participating reclining
while they dined or carried on con-
versation. Early scenes where the char
acters concerned are wholly mytho-
I0Eical show them meeting death, de-
livering speeches or reposing idly, all
on couches of a nearly similar design.
The sleeping couch rarely occurs in this
early sculpture or painting.
In form the bed of this era was based
on principles much akin to those upon
which our beds are now made There
are the body, legs and headpiece, all
made much as they are made today.
At first, so far as can be found, the
body was only slab of marble laid
ncross two upright stones serving as
legs. Later, however, there come to
view a leg for each corner and head
piece. The best examples Of modern
beds show the skill of the ancients in
sculpture and painting and the impor-
tance with which they regarded the bed.
The legs are often notable examples of
the carver's art, and the sides serve as
panels whereon the artist OF, the day
depicted the life of the period.
Other Greek couches have legs made
of blocks of wood mortised together.
Later the entire bed was made of
wood. Many of these specimens were
of the costliest manufacture, the wood
being inlaid with ivory and other ar
tlcIes of ornament. Tortoise shell as
a means of decorating couches seems
to have been introduced about 100 B. G.
Later silver and gold were occasionally
used.
In furnishings the ancierts pursued
about the same system as is in vogue
at present Mattresses, pillows, val
ances and loose draperies are shown in
the early vase paintings. All couches
had mattresses, but the thickness, quail
ity and kind varied with the different
periods. At first only few skins
thrown over the body of the bed were
used.
The pillows were of various shapes,
some being long and narrow, others
approximately square and still others
nearly round in appearance. The
Greek or Roman of this period was
n most luxurious parsonage, as he re-
quired at least three pillows to enable
him to secure good nights rest.
There was one for his head, one for his
elbow and one for his feet.
The mattresses and pillows were cov-
cred with linen or WOOL Leather to
some extent was used as a covering
for the pillows. Rare instances are
found where silk was employed as bed
covering.
A great variety Of materials was
'hscd in stuffing both articles. The
commonest article among the Greeks
seems to have been refuse wool torn
off In pardino or fuI1ino clofb AmonO