Papyrus - Etymology

Papyrus is an early form of paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that grows to 5 meters (15 ft) in height and was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt. Papyrus is first known to have been used in Ancient Egypt (at least as far back as the First dynasty), but it was also widely used throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as inland parts of Europe and south-west Asia. Papyrus - Etymology. The English word papyrus derives, via Latin, from Greek ...

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• Papyrus - Etymology
• Papyrus - Manufacture and Use
• Papyrus - Other Usages of the Word Papyrus

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The English word papyrus derives, via Latin, from Greek πάπυρος papuros. It is interesting to note that Greek has a second word for papyrus, βύβλος bublos (said to derive from the name of the Phoenician city of Byblos). The Greek writer Theophrastos, who flourished during the 4th century BC, uses papuros when referring to the plant used as a foodstuff and bublos for the same plant when used for non-food products, such as cordage, basketry, or a writing surface. This latter usage finds its way into English in such words as bibliography, ...

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Papyrus, Papyrus - Etymology, Papyrus - Manufacture and Use, Papyrus - Other Usages of the Word Papyrus

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A sheet of papyrus is made from the stem of the plant. The outer rind is first stripped off, and the sticky fibrous inner pith is cut lengthwise into thin strips of about 40 cm long. The strips are then placed side by side on a hard surface, with their edges slightly overlapping, and then another layer of strips is laid on top at a right angle. The strips may have been soaked in water long enough for decomposition to begin, perhaps increasing adhesion, but this is not certain. While still moist, the two layers are hammered together, mashing ...

See also:

Papyrus, Papyrus - Etymology, Papyrus - Manufacture and Use, Papyrus - Other Usages of the Word Papyrus

Read more here: » Papyrus: Encyclopedia II - Papyrus - Manufacture and Use