During those first settlements in the Nile riverbed, palm leaves began to be used as beds. This custom was generalized among the inhabitants during a good part of the development of the Egyptian Civilization. However, we must bear in mind that in that civilization there were basically two social classes: low and high, where the pharaoh was considered more than a king, a god. It is evident that there were also large differences in the type of house or furniture that could be found at that time, depending on whether they belonged to one or another social class.
During the Empire the lower class was still sleeping on palm leaves, usually piled up in some corner of the house. The trees were almost non-existent in that desert area, so the wooden furniture was a very scarce good, reserved almost always to the most privileged class.
The Egyptians were great inventors, they made the first paper, the first candles and locks, even condoms. They were pioneers in medicine, perfumery and written language. With regard to rest, they also had their advances, they were among the first to discover the advantages of raising the mattress of the floor, therefore they were also pioneers in making wooden beds, these were with legs carved in the shape of an animal leg, normally lion's claws. But these beds were only within reach of nobles and pharaohs. The mattresses of the beds of the nobles were made of the same material as the beds of the lowest class, palm leaves, but these were covered with special fabrics.
What can call our attention the most is the headrest, an important accessory in Egyptian beds. It did the function of the pillow and, although it may seem very uncomfortable, was designed to sleep on its side and its height was proportional to the height of the shoulder.
