Knowra Papyrus Papyrus Papyrus is a writing material made by layering and pressing strips cut from the pith of the papyrus plant. It was widely used in the ancient Mediterranean world.
Cyperus papyrus : A tall sedge native to wetlands in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, whose pith was used to make papyrus. Its triangular stems supplied the pith that papyrus makers sliced into strips.
Nile Delta : The broad, fertile delta where the Nile divides before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The delta's wetlands supported abundant papyrus plants and production.
Oxyrhynchus Papyri : A large collection of ancient papyrus documents and literary texts excavated at Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. The finds reveal papyrus in everyday documents as well as works of literature.
Papyrology : The study of ancient documents written on papyrus, including their texts, material features, and historical contexts. The discipline uses papyri to reconstruct ancient institutions and ordinary lives.
Parchment : A durable writing material made from specially prepared animal skin. Parchment could be folded into codices and often lasted better than papyrus in damp conditions.
Papyrus manufacture : The process of cutting papyrus pith into strips, arranging them in layers, pressing them, and drying the sheet. This process turned plant pith into a writable surface.
Ancient Egypt : The civilization centered on the Nile Valley from prehistory through the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. Papyrus became a major writing material within Egyptian administration, religion, and literature.
Dead Sea Scrolls : A collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts discovered near the Dead Sea, written on parchment and papyrus. Some scrolls used papyrus, showing the material's place in ancient religious writing.
Ancient Greek literature : Poetry, drama, history, philosophy, and other works composed in ancient Greek. Papyrus finds have recovered texts absent from medieval manuscript traditions.
Ostracon : A potsherd or stone fragment used as a surface for writing or drawing. Ostraca served as inexpensive alternatives for short texts and exercises.
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