03｜The History of Glass

Hello!

Starting today, I'll be writing about the history of glass.

It has been approximately 6,000 years since humans first encountered glass. Since then, reflecting the culture of each era, glass has become more beautiful and accessible, becoming a partner that enhances our lives.

Regarding the creation of glass, there are various theories and legendary tales, but the story told by the Roman historian Pliny is famous, regardless of its authenticity.

About 4,000 years ago, on a stormy night, Phoenician sailors landed on a sandy bank of what is now the Belus River in Syria.

To prepare a meal, they solidified a block of their cargo of saltpeter, placed a pot on top, lit a fire, and cooked their food. The next morning, after cooking, something sparkling caught their eye, causing great excitement. The sand from the beach (silica sand, a raw material for glass) and the saltpeter had melted together in the bonfire, creating glass.

This is Pliny's legendary story, but in reality, sand doesn't melt from the heat of a bonfire, so it likely remains a mere fabrication.

It seems more accurate to assume that natural glass was actually formed by volcanic eruptions.

The origin of glass is said to be before the 24th century BC. Glass beads discovered in Mesopotamian ruins are considered the world's oldest glass. This region is called "Ancient Orient" by Western Europeans. It extends from the basins of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, well-known in Japan as Mesopotamia, to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea (the ancient region of Syria). This entire area is also known as the "Fertile Crescent" and is considered one of the birthplaces of ancient civilization.

The first development of glass as a craft is said to have begun in the area near Syria, close to Egypt, using sand from the Belus River basin as raw material. The glass from this period was core glass, made by wrapping molten glass around a refractory clay core. These early pieces were opaque, taking the form of glass beads and accessories inlaid with jewels, and were likely prized by royalty and nobility.

This sand was later exported to the Venice region and subsequently flourished greatly with Venetian culture.