Manufacture of Papyrus Paper

Manufacture of Papyrus Paper

The Papyrus Plant
1. Tropical Aquatic Plant: Papyrus is a tropical aquatic plant that requires a large amount of water and high temperatures to grow.
2. Found by Ancient Egyptians: Ancient Egyptians found papyrus plants growing along the banks of the Nile River.

Characteristics of the Plant
1. Leaves Resemble Sun Rays: The leaves of the papyrus plant resemble sun rays and were a symbol of the god Amun Ra.
2. Triangular Stem: The stem of the papyrus plant is triangular and resembles the base of a pyramid, symbolizing power and eternity.

Cutting and Preparation
1. Cutting the Stem: The stem is cut into sections according to the desired size, whether long or short.
2. Removing the Green Outer Layer: The green outer layer is removed, and this layer was used by ancient Egyptians to make boats, sandals, and other everyday items.
3. Using the White Inner Layer: The white inner layer is used to make papyrus paper.

Manufacturing Papyrus Paper
1. Cutting into Thin Strips: The white inner layer is cut into thin strips, which is an easy process due to its high water content and low sugar content.
2. Drying: The strips are beaten to remove excess water and then flattened using a roller to remove most of the water.
3. Soaking: The strips are soaked in water for 6 days to dry out the sticky substance inside.
4. Flattening: The strips are flattened on a piece of cloth in a longitudinal and transverse manner, similar to weaving fabric.
5. Finishing: The papyrus paper is covered with a piece of cloth or leather and placed under a press to produce authentic papyrus paper