10 Famous Things That Were Invented Way Earlier Than You Think

2. The Baghdad Battery: Ancient Electricity in Mesopotamia

The discovery of the Baghdad Battery in the 1930s added a new chapter to the history of electricity. These clay jars, dating back to the Parthian or Sassanid period (approximately 150 BC to 650 AD), contained a copper cylinder and an iron rod, suggesting they might have been used to generate an electric current. While the exact purpose of these devices remains a topic of debate, some theories propose they were used for electroplating or as a primitive form of battery. The existence of such technology in ancient Mesopotamia challenges the narrative that electricity was a discovery of the modern era. The Baghdad Battery invites us to reconsider the technological capabilities of ancient societies and the possibility that they harnessed electricity in ways we are only beginning to understand. This enigmatic artifact serves as a reminder that the past may hold secrets that continue to elude our grasp, waiting to be unraveled by future discoveries.