Papyrus

Papyrus refers to both a tall marsh plant, Cyperus papyrus, and the writing material made from its pith. The plant is native to the Nile valley and other swampy regions of Africa, where it forms dense stands in shallow water. It has a hollow, triangular stem and produces a pale, fibrous rind from which useful strips can be obtained.

To make papyrus sheets, strips of the outer rind are cut lengthwise, shaved, and laid in two layers at right angles. The layers are dampened, pressed, and dried under weight, causing the fibers to bond into a thin, flexible sheet. The resulting surface is relatively smooth on one side and slightly rough on the other, and the sheets vary in thickness and width. The term papyrus is the etymological source of the English word paper.

Historically, papyrus was the principal writing material of ancient Egypt and was later used throughout the Mediterranean world, including Greece and Rome. Scribes wrote on both sides of the sheets with ink, creating scrolls and codices. Papyrus sheets were valued for their availability in the Nile region, their durability in dry climates, and their ability to be produced in large quantities. With the rise of parchment and, eventually, paper from other regions, papyrus declined in importance by late antiquity.

Today, papyrus is produced on a small scale in some regions for traditional crafts and tourism, and the term continues to be used in historical contexts. In modern usage, papyrus also denotes the ancient writing medium associated with Egyptian civilization.