What is papyrus?
Papyrus is probably the best-known paper-like writing surface.
Original version of papyrus is made from a plant of the same
name. Our term, paper, comes from the Greek word, papyros.
Papyrus, which comes from Egypt, was also used in both Greece and Rome.
For almost 4000 years it was the primary writing surface for the
Greco-Roman world.
The Papyrus plant has a tall, thick multi-layered stalk. To make a
writing surface, these layers are split, flattened, and placed side by
side. Additional layers are placed perpendicular to and on top of
the first layer. The stalks are then pressed, dried, and dressed
with paste, before it is beaten flat and smooth. The papyrus is then
ready as a writing surface.
Papyrus was used for literary documents, administrative
documents , receipts, and various other private and official
documents.
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True Paper
"To be classed as true paper, the thin sheets must be made from
fiber that has been macerated until each individual filament is a separate
unit; the fibers are then intermixed with water, and, by the use of a
sievelike screen, are lifted from the water in the form of a thin stratum,
the water draining through the small openings of the screen leaving a
sheet of matted fiber upon the screen's surface. This thin layer of
intertwined fiber is paper."
--- Dard Hunter
Copyright 1998, Hand Papermaking, Inc.
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