Bongo - the history of one of the most popular smoking tools

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Bongo - the history of one of the most popular smoking tools

Bongo is perhaps one of the most recognized smoking tools. Nowadays, it is difficult to find someone who does not even know the purpose of its use. Bongo, or water pipe, is a filtering tool usually made of glass or acrylic, although nowadays it is also made of other materials, e.g. silicone, commonly used for smoking tobacco, or herbs, mainly cannabis. Smoking with bong has gained immense popularity, mainly because thanks to water filtration, it is one of the most effective, and at the same time the least invasive to health, methods of smoking. But where did the bongo actually come from and when did it arise? As historical sources show, hookahs have a long history that goes back to BC. They were created simultaneously, in many remote parts of the world, which proves the enormity of human ingenuity. In this article, we present the genesis of this popular, versatile, and at the same time brilliant in its simplicity, tool for smoking.

The invention of glass

Let's start with the creation of glass, because it was this invention that initiated the birth of the hookah that we know today. Glass, as we know, is formed naturally around volcanoesas obsidian formed by cooling lava. Historians suggest that the first deliberate use and processing of glass took place as early as 2500 BC in Mesopotamia. Glass was used to create pearls of various colors, which were used to make jewelry and various types of utensils. Subsequently, glass blowing techniques developed in ancient Rome during the Hellenistic period, where glass was used to create unique, colorful mosaics, now known as millefiori (from the language ofItalian tlingering flowers ). Until the fourteenth century AD techniquemillefioriit practically disappeared completely, but in the 15th century it flourished again, mainly thanks to the Italian artist Marietta Barovier, who brought it to perfection. Nowadays, the most beautiful, colorful bongs are created using this technique.

Discovery of the first bongs

Historical sources show that the first regions where smoking of dry herbs was recorded were Central Asia and Central Africa. However, there is no conclusive evidence that water pipes were smoked there. On the other hand, recent excavations in Russia revealed that tribal leaders of the Iranian-Eurasian Scythian tribe were smoking bongs made of gold as early as 2,400 years ago. This is the earliest discovery of an ancient bong. Before excavations were made in Russia, the earliest bongs were found in a cave in Ethiopia and their origin was dated between1100 and 1400 AD In the cave, 11 bongs were found for smoking, and an underground system of water pipes made of animal horns and primitive ceramics was discovered that created a unique cooling system.

The Silk Road and the development of the glass industry

Another important historical event, whoe had an impact on the spread of the bong smoking culture, was the creation of the Silk Road. It allowed for the amazing trade exchange between continents at that time, but also made many Central Asian cultural traditions, including smoking from water pipes, quickly take root in Europe and America. Tobacco has become one of the main and most desirable export goods. The glass industry also flourished, which clearly contributed to the emergence of what is known to us glass bong. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, stained glass art flourished in Art Nouveau art, and in the mid-19th century the very characteristic glass lamps with a stained glass shade, created by the American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, became very popular. All these elements had a significant impact on the appearance of the bong, while the real intensification of large-scale production of water pipes took place only in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to the innovative artist Bob Snodgrass.

Bob Snodgrass revolutionizes the glass market

Bob Snodgrass is an American developer of glass bongs, pipes and barrels, known for his many innovations in the field of glass. Influenced by the evolving marijuana smoking culture, he began working on glass blowing in 1971 and has based his current development on it.you business. Bob Snodgrass is the inventor of color changing glass - a type of borosilicate glass mixed (matted) with gold, silver, platinum or any combination thereof. This glass changes color when exposed to heat when the dark resin produced by burning accumulates on its inside. This makes the colors of the ions in the glass more visible and creates a contrast. However, after cleaning the tube, the ions become almost invisible again and the color of the glass returns to its original state. With his invention, Bob Snodgrass revolutionized the bong and pipe market, creating unique works of art. He is considered the "godfather of glass" and in 2011 the documentary "Degenerate Art: The Art and C" was madeulture of Glass Pipes ”- optells the story of the creation of the "glass subculture" that was created by Snodgrass.

As history shows, many different factors and events have influenced not only the present appearance of the bong but also the entire hookah smoking culture. Unfortunately, it cannot be clearly stated in which region the bong was originally created. Central Asia and China had a huge impact on the spread of the hookah smoking culture, and they are credited with the greatest merits in this topic. The word bongo itself also comes from this region. However, many historians argue that in Africa, earthen water pipes were used long before that in China and that they were the prototype of the bong we know today.One thing is certain, if you smoke, it is definitely worth doing it with a bong. This tool provides an incredibly smooth, pleasant smoke and a very strong sensation, which, let's be honest, is often the most important advantage of this instrument. Add to that water filtration, smoke cooling, and the fact that bong smoking has the relatively least negative impact on our health. As for the discussion on the origin of hookah, maybe it is worth developing it among friends using this wonderful invention?

Sources:

Bob Snodgrass. Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Snodgrass; accessed on March 5, 2018.

History of the bong. Smoke Cartel,www.smokecartel.

Marietta Barovier.Wikipedia, it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marietta_Barovier; accessed on March 5, 2018.

Tetiyevsky C.,History of the bong. Dankstop, dankstop.com/blogs/wiki/history-of-the-bong; accessed on March 5, 2018.

The history and culture of the bong.T.he Weed Blog - Marijuana News and Information, accessed on March 5, 2018.