When Were Umbrellas First Used?

The first umbrellas, utilized in the fourth century, were meant to protect
against sun, not rain.

Umbrella-like items have been depicted in sculptures from Ancient Egypt and
Persia, but may also have been used in China over 3000 years ago. They may
have been a symbol of nobility, as protection from the sun was a privilege
of the wealthy and powerful. The exact point when the umbrella was invented
is not known, but what is known is that they were originally intended to be
used as protection from the sun, rather than from the rain.
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