⚠️This fact has been debunked
This is a persistent internet myth. Scissors were invented by the Mesopotamians nearly 4,000 years ago (around 1500 BC), and cross-bladed scissors were developed by the Romans around AD 100 - all well before Leonardo da Vinci's lifetime (1452-1519). While da Vinci may have sketched scissors or used them in his work, he absolutely did not invent them.
Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors.
Did Leonardo da Vinci Really Invent Scissors?
It's one of those "facts" that spreads like wildfire across the internet: Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance genius and inventor extraordinaire, created the scissors. There's just one problem—it's completely false.
Scissors existed thousands of years before da Vinci was even born. The Renaissance master may have been brilliant, but he didn't invent this particular tool.
The Real Inventors: Ancient Mesopotamians
The actual credit goes to the Mesopotamians, who created the first scissors nearly 4,000 years ago in the Middle East. These early versions consisted of two blades connected by a thin strip of curved metal that acted as a spring. Users would squeeze the blades together to cut, and the spring would push them back apart.
Ancient Egyptians were also early adopters, using spring scissors as far back as 1500 BC for cutting hair, textiles, and animal wool. These weren't the scissors we know today, but they got the job done.
The Romans Perfected Them
Around AD 100, the Romans took scissors to the next level by inventing the cross-bladed design we still use today. Instead of spring-loaded blades, they created pivoted scissors with two blades that slide past each other, connected by a central screw or rivet.
The Romans were also the first civilization to use scissors specifically for hairstyling, rather than just practical tasks like cutting rope or shearing sheep. So next time you're at the salon, thank the Romans, not da Vinci.
Why Do People Think da Vinci Invented Them?
Leonardo da Vinci is associated with so many inventions—from flying machines to armored vehicles—that people tend to credit him with almost anything clever. It's possible he sketched scissors in his famous notebooks or even improved upon existing designs, but he definitely didn't create them from scratch.
This myth is a perfect example of how historical misconceptions spread. Once a claim gets repeated enough times online, it starts to feel true—even when the actual history is well-documented and completely contradicts it.
The Takeaway
Scissors are an ancient tool with a history spanning millennia, not a Renaissance innovation. The Mesopotamians invented them, the Egyptians refined them, and the Romans gave us the cross-bladed version we use today.
Leonardo da Vinci was undeniably a genius, but let's give credit where it's actually due—to the ancient inventors who created one of humanity's most enduring and useful tools.