Ancient Egyptian Papyrus History

Papyrus was a writing material and everyday item in ancient Egypt that was used for thousands of years:

• Writing

  Papyrus was the primary writing material in ancient Egypt, used for religious texts, government records, legal documents, literature, and personal correspondence. It was written on in hieroglyphs, hieratic script, or Demotic script. 
• Everyday items

  Papyrus was also used to make rope, sandals, baskets, and mats. 
• Plant

  Papyrus was also the name of the plant from which the writing material was made. The papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, was a member of the sedge family and was common in the Nile Delta.

  

  • History

    Papyrus was invented in Egypt around the fourth millennium BCE. The earliest known papyrus roll was discovered in a tomb at Saqqara and dates to around 2900 BCE. Papyrus remained in use until around 1100 CE, even after the invention of parchment and paper. 
  • Production

    Papyrus was made by placing strips of the plant side by side, then topping them with another set of strips at a right angle. The layers were dampened and pressed together, and then dried in the sun. 
  • Writing on papyrus

    Scribes would write on the recto of the papyrus roll until it was full, then flip it over to write on the verso.