The fridge

What is the most important object in the kitchen for you? Is it maybe the stove or maybe the microwave? For me it’s definitely the fridge! I could not imagine to not have one in my house especially in the hot summer months. That’s why I made some research for you to find out more about the history of the glorious refrigerator.

The term refrigerator was firstly used in the 17th century. This time the idea of this machine was born and scientists worked on its realisation. In 1755 the Scottish professor William Cullen created the first cooling system in his laboratory that worked. Unfortunately, it was not of practical use and just one small experiment. Some years later, the British journalist James Harrison developed a vapor compression system using ether, alcohol or ammonia and made a patent for this in 1856.

Now you know how the actual refrigerator was invented but I have something more interesting to tell you. Long before the 17th century, around 400BC people in ancient Greece developed their own way of cooling: the so called Lakkopago. The name could be translated as pit (λάκκο) of ice (πάγο). You can imagine the Lakkopago as a big stone cone with a hole inside filled with snow. It was the first ancient type of evaporative cooling and worked with over and underground cooling rooms with fresh air systems. The cone had on the bottom a thickness of maximum 2m while getting thinner to the top. The biggest still existing Lakkopago can be visited in Meybod/Μευβοδη. The cooling cone there is 15m high and has a volume of 5000m3. The material of what the walls are made is special. The Greeks used a mixture of sand, clay, chalk, ash and goat hair to create a cover that keeps warmth away. In the cold winter months the people used to collect snow and ice to fill the bottom of the Lakkopago and kept their fresh food all the year inside to make it longer consumable. This technique was copied centuries later in northern Europe in so called ice houses.

Do you think the ancient fridge was really a stone cone? Do you believe that it’s a Greek invention? Check the solution below!