Pillow History

It hasn't always been stuffed with feathers. A look at the history of your favorite bedtime companion
Friday, April 4, 2008 | 11:15 a.m. CDT; updated 11:20 a.m. CDT, Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Pillows can be traced as far back as Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq) and ancient Egypt. Head rests were found in pharaohs’ tombs. Early versions were for the privileged and rich, according to “Really Useful: The Origins of Everyday Things” by Joel Levy, but they were hardly cushy. Most were solid wood, carved or curved slightly in the middle.

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