Raised Beds

The first two men to walk on the Moon, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, spent their rest periods on the Apollo lunar module floor and reported being too cold to sleep comfortably so from Apollo 12 until the last Apollo lunar mission, hammocks designed to attach to the interior of the lunar module ascent stage were provided. They helped reduce the cooling effects of contact with the cabin floor as well as a softer support. They enabled astronauts from the last missions to spend complete nights of sleep on the Moon. An old solution to a modern problem.

lunar module hammock

The hammock's story begins in ancient times. The earliest recorded evidence of hammocks dates back over a thousand years to the Mayan civilisation in Central America. Mayans, known for their advanced knowledge of architecture and textiles, crafted hammocks from plant fibres such as sisal and agave. These early hammocks provided a comfortable sleep surface, allowing people to escape from the damp ground and avoid contact with crawling creatures.

The spread of hammocks across the world can be attributed to European explorers and sailors. During their voyages in the 15th and 16th centuries, Christopher Columbus and his crew encountered the Taino people of the Caribbean, who introduced them to the ingenious invention of hammocks. The sailors quickly adopted hammocks as sleeping quarters on ships due to their space-saving nature and ability to provide stability in turbulent waters

weaving traditional Yucatan hammocks

The word "hammock" itself, from Spanish hamaca, is derived from the Taino word "hamaca," meaning "fish net." This reflects the strong influence of the Taino people on the development and naming of this unique form of bedding.

It may be significant that in the first official mention of hammocks in the Royal Navy of 1597 they are not referred to under that name, but as 'hanging cabbons or beddes'. The medieval canvas hammock may have been an English invention which was not known on the continent when Columbus made his voyage. In the course of the seventeenth century its use spread to the navies of Western Europe, and eventually it was given the same name as the Caribbean hammock of netting which came to Europe when Columbus returned.

Aboard ship, hammocks were regularly employed for sailors sleeping on the gun decks of warships, where limited space prevented the installation of permanent bunks. Since a slung hammock moves in concert with the motion of the vessel, the occupant is not at a risk of being thrown onto the deck (which may be 5 or 6 feet below) during swells or rough seas. Likewise, a hammock provides more comfortable sleep than a bunk or a berth while at sea since the sleeper always stays well balanced, irrespective of the motion of the vessel.

a sailor's hammock

A narrow mattress was also issued which protected the user from cold from below. In addition naval hammocks could be rolled tightly and stowed in an out of the way place or in nets along the gunwale as additional protection during battle (as was the case during the age of sail). Many sailors became so accustomed to this way of sleeping that they brought their hammocks ashore with them on leave. The naval use of hammocks continued into the 20th century. During World War II, troopships sometimes employed hammocks for both naval ratings and soldiers in order to increase available space and troop carrying capacity. Many leisure sailors even today prefer hammocks over bunks because of better comfort in sleep while on the high seas.

Travel or camping hammocks are popular among leave no trace and ultra-light campers and hikers for their reduced impact on the environment and their lightness and lack of bulk compared to tents. The way they are hung is critical for comfort. The optimal angle of the attaching lines to the post / wall / tree is usually about 30 degrees. Hammocks can be attached to the anchor points using a variety of suspension systems, including ropes and webbing straps.

Some of the above information is from Simply Hammocks, Richmond, N Yorkshire.

a hammock among pines

Below is a poem by American poet James Wright. The poem was first published in The Paris Review in 1961.I had never heard of him or it until looking for an appropriate poem for this article. I love the title. 

I was very surprised to read that some critics regard the poem's final line as one of the greatest lines in modern poetry.

Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota

Over my head, I see the bronze butterfly,
Asleep on the black trunk,
Blowing like a leaf in green shadow.
Down the ravine behind the empty house,
The cowbells follow one another
Into the distances of the afternoon.
To my right,
In a field of sunlight between two pines,
The droppings of last year’s horses
Blaze up into golden stones.
I lean back, as the evening darkens and comes on.
A chicken hawk floats over, looking for home.
I have wasted my life.

   

                                           James Wright

James Wright's, “Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota” is from Above the River: The Complete Poems and Selected Prose. Copyright 1990 by James Wright. Reprinted by permission of Wesleyan University Press.