When you think of a vending machine, things like snacks, sodas, or even pharmaceutical supplies may come to mind. But you might be surprised to know that the first ever vending machine actually dispensed holy water. Yep, people back then would insert a coin and receive just the right amount of holy water from temples in Egypt.
While the vending machine might seem like a fairly modern invention, it’s actually believed to have been around since the first century. It’s one of many historical inventions that were way ahead of their time. Bored Panda was intrigued to know what other creations have been around longer than we thought, so we took a deep dive through the passage of time to find out. From flying cars to ancient earthquake detectors to automated doors, it turns out the world has been filled with futuristic inventions far longer than we realized.
