Egyptian Papyrus

Other On Display

Foundation of Egyptian written culture

Era: Early Dynastic to Islamic Period

Current Location: Major collections are housed in the British Museum, Cairo Museum, Berlin Egyptian Museum, Louvre, and various university collections worldwide.

Materials:

Cyperus papyrus plant stems, water, pressing tools, and sometimes adhesive made from plant materials. Inks were typically made from carbon black or red ochre mixed with water and gum arabic.

Research Confidence:

(80%)

About Egyptian Papyrus

Egyptian papyrus is one of the earliest forms of writing material, made from the pith of the papyrus plant (Cyperus papyrus) that grew abundantly along the Nile River. The manufacturing process involved cutting the stem into thin strips, laying them in overlapping horizontal and vertical layers, pressing them together, and drying them to create a smooth writing surface. The resulting sheets were light brown in color, flexible yet durable, and could be joined together to form scrolls of various lengths. These scrolls served as the primary medium for written documentation in ancient Egypt for over 4000 years, from circa 3000 BCE to 1000 CE.

Historical Significance

Foundation of Egyptian written culture

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Physical Details

Dimensions:

Materials:

Cyperus papyrus plant stems, water, pressing tools, and sometimes adhesive made from plant materials. Inks were typically made from carbon black or red ochre mixed with water and gum arabic.

Quick Facts

Type:

Other

Era:

Early Dynastic to Islamic Period

Where to See It

🏛️

Major collections are housed in the British Museum, Cairo Museum, Berlin Egyptian Museum, Louvre, and various university collections worldwide.

Currently on Display