I must have looked into the history of the umbrella before. It has left my mind and I got to looking at the patio umbrella with its pretty shape and wondered whether the shape has changed over time. I remember the palm leaf fan in the movie Ten Commandments. The first umbrella is accredited to the Egyptians over 3 thousand years ago. The palm leaf and feathers are what the Egyptians used.
There was acknowledgment of it fulfilling a practical purpose - in shielding the king from the sun and providing a cooling breeze. Its purpose in appearing behind the ruler has been interpreted as indicating that the pharaoh was endowed with the characteristics of a god. The sunshade carried behind the king, called the behet, could be viewed as a public declaration of a divine presence, and thus the fan itself became “the physical manifestation of the abstract shade.” There are paintings with an actual parasol held over the figure of a god.
This use continued - Processions of the Pope still have the flabellum to show honour. They are big flouncy things with huge white features and a gold and red coat of arms in the pictures I find.
Other ancient cultures had umbrellas: Ancient India and Ancient China had umbrellas - again for royal standard bearers accompanying those of high rank, especially kings and royalty. Chinese directions on making an umbrella date from 2,400 years ago. These were collapsible umbrellas. And Ancient Greece and Rome had umbrellas.
The ancient world was rich in knowledge and technology, but all this great advancement disappears in the Middle Ages which lasted from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Few references were found then, but then we speak of Europe, Rome and Greece. China too experienced disunity during this time. But they didn't lose basic capabilities: the reoccurrence of umbrellas in Europe in the middle of the seventeen century is the adoption from China. So then we move into the Renaissance and slip slide into today, with much history and documentation along the way.
I am so easily shocked by the great gap of the Middle Ages. It is the contrast to our light speed developments since the Renaissance where we entered the genius age. I actually think of it as the everyday genius age with so many inventions, so much creativity and imagination.
I arrive at that conclusion because I could not have imagined the incorporation of umbrella into this web television series:
TheUmbrella Academy: On one day in 1989, 43 infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by billionaire industrialist Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who creates the Umbrella Academy and prepares his "children" to save the world. In their teenage years, though, the family fractures and the team disbands. Fast forward to the present time, when the six surviving members of the clan reunite upon the news of Hargreeves' passing. They work together to solve a mystery surrounding their father's death...see more here. They turn out to be superheroes...who could guess!
Here's Suzi Peters, head Vet at the Grimsby Animal Hospital, in front of the display of plants and flowers that I put together for them this summer. She's holding her Trillium Award which is very prized here in Grimsby. She's made sure the gardens are beautiful through the years, with many dog and cat statues throughout the grounds.
Having taken pictures of the Trillium winners for more than 5 years, and judging for 5 years means that I know the formula for a Trillium. There's nothing like an eye-popping curb appeal display. And with Suzi's collection of ornaments, this is a remarkable garden.
