The History of Linen Production

Linen being one of the earliest products known toalong the fertile valley of the River Nile.
human civilisation has a historical heritage that goesIn addition to that, linen has also been employed in the
back to centuries. During the times when man was incourse of symbolism. Always held as an emblem of
the most basic phase of his development and waspurity, one can find many statements of linen in the Old
trying to survive on the resources provided to him byTestament. While the children of Israel found
wild animals, the only form of fabric they had, to coverthemselves wandering in the desert, and had deviated
their bodies with, was animal skin.from the path that Moses had laid down for them, and
In the later years, the nomadic communities came intowere captivated in the worship of the calf of gold, it
being. These communities used to drive herds of cattlebecame crucial for them to return back to Tabernacle.
across the plains of eastern Europe. It was during theIn the description of Tabernacle (which was the central
period of the great migrations that wool obtained frompoint of worship of Israeli tribes), the curtains were
flocks of sheep was also used as an item of clothing.made of fine linen.
It was after a long period that man happened to settleIts name used in the Holy Scriptures shows the
down and built cities to live in; not only that, but theyimportance of linen in the ancient times, a heritage that
also tilled and cultivated the land. The products of soilcarries itself forward in the New Testament as well,
were inclusive of flax, which was made out of thewhich states that the angels were clothed in pure and
fibre that became the real source of linen production.white linen.
Concluding this notion, linen is considered as the veryLater on, despite the development and advancement
earliest vegetable fabric that was woven by humans.of technology, the importance of linen stayed where it
With the passage of years, the legacy of linenwas. In fact, linen is as popular in the current scenario
persisted throughout. In fact, some of the Biblical storiesas it was in the historical years of its initial existence.
contain the mention of linen. For example, the story inOverall, the history of linen production dates back to
which Jehovah desired to slice the Egyptians, whothe ancient times, illustrating the heritage that this fabric
were holding His chosen people as subjects, plaguecarries and the importance it has, both in the past as
became eventually responsible for ruining the cropswell as in the present.