what was papyrus in ancient egypt?

I knew that papyrus was some kind of paper substance before this from ancient times. However, I didn't know how it was made or who used it before now. 

begin quotes: 

 

Papyrus in ancient Egypt was both the abundant Nile marsh plant and the lightweight, portable writing material made from it, formed by layering and pressing strips of the plant's pith, creating a smooth, durable sheet used for everything from administrative records and religious texts to art, and also for making boats, mats, and sandals.  

How it was Made

1. Harvesting: The triangular stems of the Cyperus papyrus plant, growing plentifully in the Nile marshes, were harvested. 

Slicing: The pith was sliced into thin strips. 

Layering: Strips were laid side-by-side in one layer, then another layer was placed on top at a right angle (crisscross). 

Pressing & Drying: The layers were pressed together under weight, with the plant's natural sap acting as a glue, then dried in the sun and smoothed. 

Uses in Ancient Egypt

Writing Surface: The primary use, allowing for hieroglyphic, hieratic, and Demotic texts. 

Documents: Scribes recorded laws, religious texts, medical knowledge, stories, and daily accounts. 

Art: Used for illustrated manuscripts, paintings, and decorative scrolls. 

Practical Items: Woven into mats, rope, sails, and even boats. 

Significance

Papyrus was a revolutionary invention, providing the world with its first portable and relatively affordable writing surface, paving the way for widespread literacy, record-keeping, and the documentation of history and culture, say Merriam-Webster and Britannica. 

• Papyrus in Ancient Egypt - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  Mar 1, 2015 — Perhaps the most important use for the papyrus plant was as a writing surface, created from strips of the pith found in...

  

  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• 
• Show all

Dive deeper in AI Mode

Stripping: The outer green rind was removed, leaving the inner, spongy, white pith. 

Papyrus - Wikipedia

Papyrus was first known to have been used in Egypt (at least as far back as the First Dynasty), as the papyrus plant was once abun...

Wikipedia

Papyrus | Definition, History, & Facts - Britannica

Dec 22, 2025 — papyrus Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). papyrus, writing material of ancient times and also the plant from which it was der...

Britannica