Papyrus - is, first of all, the reed plant, sedge family.Due to its unique characteristics and special organic compounds, the papyrus has become an indispensable means of letters and materials, received the widest application in antiquity.
Papyrus - what is it and what is its value?
main components of papyrus - is:
- cellulose - 57%;
- lignin - 27%;
- minerals - 9%;
- water - 7%.
As you can see, cellulose is present in the papyrus in the greatest percentage, which confirms the foresight practical inventions - paper.It was the Egyptians have to be thankful for finding such a useful material for writing and the historical facts which have become known to us through the centuries.Until the tenth century papyrus production flourished and improved processing technology.Papyrus - what is it?From cane plant produced: household items, clothing, sails, boats, and even objects of artistic decoration.Therefore, in the ancient papyrus was widely used material.These days, you can observe and even try their hand in the manufacture of papyrus paper in many places in Egypt.Cairo suburb literally heaped variety of shops and stores, allowing his own to make paper from the cane.
Papyrus - what is it and how it was produced?
process of making paper from the cane can be divided into several stages:
- Reed is separated from the outer shell and the core of papyrus cut into thin strips.It is the middle part of the stem and becomes a direct part of the papyrus paper.
- Then, thin strips of papyrus soaked and smooth.
- The treated strip overlapping interlaced mess up on a flat surface.
- The next step is to process places a special adhesive compound composition.In ancient times, the adhesive can serve a variety of shellfish, silty water or adhesive solution of wheat flour.
- press - is the penultimate stage of technology.They could serve as stones, heated by the sun.
- final moments papermaking served as drying and polishing papyrus sheet.
Ancient Egyptian papyri that have survived to the present day, often roll format, that is, the shape of the scroll.Manufactures sheets from sticking together, which allowed the ancient scribes to record quite voluminous writings.
Papyrus - what it is: an eternal material or the use of special processing technologies?
It should be noted that the paper made of papyrus, can maintain their structure sufficiently long period of time.Moisture and biological effects are the main natural factors of destruction of papyrus, so the Egyptians kept them in designated locations.The most frequent such places becomes the inner rooms of the pyramids.The special technology of the construction of the pyramids is a guarantee of safe storage of papyrus scrolls.
Needless to say, the papyri of ancient Egypt were subjected to special treatment, as well as preserved in clay pots and other items hand-made nature.Often used in a variety of cases, scrolls wound on a stick, creating Suvo.By Suvo fastened titulyus (special designation contents of the scroll).Definitely by the conditions of storage and dry climate became favorable factors that helped overcome the millennium ancient scrolls and stand before all humanity as a historical fact of power and wisdom of the ancient civilization.
