Cigars have a long and storied history, dating back to the early 1500s, but who invented cigars?
Many different people have contributed to their development, so this is a question that has been debated for many years with no definite answer.
In this blog post, we will briefly examine two possible answers to the question of who invented cigars and explore some of the fascinating histories behind them!
Who Invented Cigars? A Brief History
The earliest known depiction of a cigar comes from a stone carving that dates back to 600 A.D.
In addition, cigars have been found in burial sites that are believed to be over 1,000 years old.
The Mayans or Columbus?
The most popular story is that cigars were first invented by the Mayan people of Central America.
According to legend, the Mayans would roll up tobacco leaves and smoke them during religious ceremonies.
Another theory suggests that cigars were first introduced to Europe by Christopher Columbus after his voyages to the New World.
We’ll discuss both of these theories in greater detail below and the possible evidence to support these stories, although there’s no definitive proof as to who invented cigars.
Cigars likely originated from a variety of different cultures and regions, and they have been smoked for centuries all over the world.
Various Theories About Who Invented Cigars
The two most prevailing theories suggest that cigars were either invented by the ancient Mayans or by Christopher Columbus and his crew.
Mayan Artifacts
The first theory suggests that cigars were invented by the ancient Mayans.
This is supported by the fact that there have been numerous cigar artifacts found in Mayan ruins.
In addition, the Mayans were known to have used tobacco for religious and spiritual ceremonies.
This theory is further supported by the fact that the word “cigar” comes from the Mayan word “Sikar,” which means “to smoke rolled tobacco leaves.”
Columbus Lands in Cuba
The second theory suggests that cigars were invented by Christopher Columbus and his crew.
This is supported by the fact that Columbus and his men were the first Europeans to encounter tobacco.
In 1492, when Columbus landed in Cuba, he observed the native people smoking rolled tobacco leaves.
He and his men took some tobacco leaves back to Europe with them. It’s believed that it was from these tobacco leaves that cigars were eventually created.
While both theories are plausible, it’s still unknown who invented cigars.
However, what is known is that cigars have been enjoyed by people all over the world for centuries.
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Evidence That Supports Each Theory
Ancient Mayans
Archeologists have discovered many ancient artifacts that provide evidence of the Mayan civilization’s cigar-smoking culture.
The first discovery was in an ancient Mayan city, in a temple that was buried by a volcanic eruption.
Archeologists found a stone carving of a Mayan god smoking a cigar, and pottery shards that were decorated with images of people smoking cigars.
In another temple, they found a mural that showed people smoking cigars while they were participating in a religious ceremony.
These discoveries provide strong evidence that the Mayans smoked cigars as part of their religious beliefs.
Mayans Smoked for Pleasure
Other archeological discoveries have revealed that the Mayans smoked tobacco for pleasure as well as for ritual purposes.
In one tomb, archeologists found a gold necklace that was adorned with tiny images of people smoking cigars.
This indicates that the act of smoking cigars was considered to be a luxurious activity among the Mayans.
In another tomb, they found a ceramic vase that was decorated with images of women smoking cigars.
This suggests that even women participated in cigar smoking, contrary to the belief that only men smoked tobacco in ancient cultures.
Does Evidence Hold True?
The evidence from these archeological discoveries suggests that the Mayans were familiar with the practice of cigar smoking long before European explorers arrived in the Americas.
This evidence is significant because it indicates that the Mayans had developed their own methods for growing and preparing tobacco leaves for smoking.
It also suggests that they had developed their own rituals and ceremonies associated with cigar smoking.
The video below backs up the side of the Mayans inventing cigars. However, it also adds in a famous individual in this story – Christopher Columbus!
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Columbus
According to most historians, the credit for inventing cigars goes to Christopher Columbus.
Of course, there is no smoking gun when it comes to the origins of cigars. However, there is some evidence that supports the Columbus theory.
For one thing, Columbus was the first European to encounter tobacco. He described it in his journal as a “strange plant” with large leaves that could be smoked.
Moreover, Native Americans were already smoking cigarettes when Columbus arrived in the New World.
This suggests that they had already discovered the addictive properties of tobacco and were using it recreationally.
The Native Americans
It’s also worth noting that, although other cultures had developed methods for smoking tobacco, none of them were as efficient or as widespread as the ones developed by the Native Americans.
This suggests that the Native Americans were particularly adept at cigar-making. It’s likely that they were the first to develop the cigars we know and store at home today.
There’s some evidence that supports Columbus’s theory of cigar invention. However, given the lack of definitive proof, we may never know for sure who invented cigars.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the true answer to who invented cigars is still unknown.
However, there is evidence to suggest that it was first created by the Mayan people of Central America.
While more research is needed to confirm the true origins of who invented cigars, the available evidence indicates that it’s a very old tradition with roots in Central America.