Bed mosquito net
Mosquitero de cama
- Date
- c. century V a.C. · confidence low
- Place
- Nile Delta, Egypt
- Credited to
- Fishermen and elites of ancient Egypt
- Field
- Tools
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A fine net or gauze canopy covering the bed to keep mosquitoes out. Herodotus says Egyptian marsh fishermen slept under their nets, and the conopeum was associated with Cleopatra.
The source is Herodotus (Histories II.95); ancient mosquito nets are also mentioned in India. Where and when it was invented is unknown; the date is that of the oldest written testimony.
What it led to
- sleeping protected from insects in hot, malarial regions
- the bed canopy (conopeum) of imperial Rome
- field mosquito nets of colonial armies