Art installation of umbrellas, Borough Market, London, England 10 Feb 2025

Art installation of umbrellas, Borough Market, London, England

Today"s image features one of the simplest yet most essential inventions in human history: the umbrella, or parasol. Over 4,000 years ago, in ancient Egypt, Assyria and China, these foldable canopies were first used to shield people from the sun. It wasn"t until the 17th century that the umbrella, as we know it today, gained popularity in Europe, initially as a luxury item primarily for women. Fast-forward a few centuries, and these weather shields have become a staple in pop culture, too. Remember Mary Poppins with her iconic umbrella that helped her fly, or Rihanna"s hit song "Umbrella"?

© Malcolm P Chapman/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Masterpiece of acoustic engineering
10 Feb 2024South Downs Dark Skies Festival
10 Feb 2026Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, Ibiza, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Strong sibling bonds
5 Apr 2024The Bahamas
26 Aug 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Celebrating the tropics
11 Feb 2026Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA
18 Nov 2024Porthcawl lighthouse, Wales
11 Sep 2025Gdańsk on the banks of the Motława river, Poland
11 Jun 2024Gemsboks in the savannah, Botswana
26 Jan 2026Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
12 Dec 2025National Poinsettia Day
Owl be seeing you
A light in the coastal darkness
11 Dec 2024International Mountain Day
Lighting the world
Good cold fun
Crowning jewel of London
23 Mar 2026World Meteorological Day
17 Apr 2024Black bear cub emerges into spring
Aug 31, 2023Saguaro cacti, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona
11 Mar 2025Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
A day for cousins of every stripe
Fit for a king
A delightfully ornate Easter display
Wise guys
Aug 21, 2023Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada
10 Jan 2024Mylopotamos, Thessaly, Greece
21 Feb 2025Champaka Sarasi, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
10 Feb 2025Art installation of umbrellas, Borough Market, London, England
22 Apr 2025Earth Day
25 Oct 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland