papyrus with cartouche
The Collection of Senex Caecilius

The object on the left is a piece of Egyptian papyrus (ca. 1995) decorated with my own cartouche: Ra-Djer.

An article by Peter van Minnen entitled From the World of Papyri offers some background about the origin of paper and of the papyri housed at Duke University.

An illustrated companion article deals with Writing in Egypt under Greek and Roman Rule.

A photograph illustrates the member of the sedge family named Cyperus papyrus.

For additional information, you can consult these references:

  • The Papyrus Page focuses on ancient Egyptian papyri and the history and archaeology of books and writing.
  • The Papyrus Archive at Duke University has a Scriptorium that offers images of papyri with Hieratic, Demotic, Coptic and other scripts and languages.
  • Encarta® Online provides a brief description of the papyrus plant and its role in antiquity for both ornamental and useful purposes, including the paper-making process.

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