- It was made from the stems of the papyrus plant, which grows in the Nile River delta.
- The stems were cut into thin strips, which were then soaked in water and pounded flat.
- The strips were then laid out in a crisscross pattern and pressed together to form a sheet.
- The sheets were then dried in the sun and polished with a smooth stone.
Papyrus was a very versatile material.
- It was strong and durable, yet thin and flexible enough to be easily rolled up into scrolls.
- It was also relatively cheap and easy to produce, which made it an ideal writing material for everyday use.
Papyrus was used for a wide variety of purposes in ancient Egypt.
- It was used for writing letters, stories, and religious texts.
- It was also used for making maps, calendars, and other documents.
- Papyrus was even used as a wrapping material for food and other objects.
The use of papyrus in ancient Egypt declined after the introduction of parchment in the 3rd century BC.
- Parchment, which was made from animal skins, was more durable than papyrus and could be written on both sides.
- However, papyrus continued to be used in some parts of Egypt until the 10th century AD.