Papyrus facts for kids

Papyrus paper

Papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus at Kew Gardens, London

Papyrus plants at Syracuse, Sicily

Papyrus is a kind of paper that was used in Ancient Egypt for writing. It was first made as far back as the 3rd millennium BC. It was made from a kind of reed called Cyperus papyrus. This plant was originally grown in marshy areas around the Nile river. The plant had a variety of uses. The Egyptians also used the papyrus plants to make boats, mattresses, mats, rope, sandals, and baskets. Specially cultivated papyrus, grown on plantations, was used to make the writing material. They were first used in Ancient Egypt, but they were later used throughout the Mediterranean region.

Images for kids

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  Roman portraiture fresco of a young man with a papyrus scroll, from Herculaneum, 1st century AD

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  Bill of sale for a donkey, papyrus; 19.3 by 7.2 cm, MS Gr SM2223, Houghton Library, Harvard University

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  Men splitting papyrus, Tomb of Puyemré; Metropolitan Museum of Art

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  Papyrus plants near Syracuse, Sicily

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  Papyrus Flower on white background

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  Drawing of a greater bird of paradise and the papyrus plant

See also

In Spanish: Papiro para niños