The Cyperus papyrus plant grows in the Nile's fresh
water. It has long roots and stems and the ancient
Egyptians used it in building ships and making papyrus
paper.
 The outer bark of the papyrus plant is removed and the inner pith is sliced into thin strips, which are subsequently hammered to break the fibers and drain the water. They are then reimmersed into ordinary water for three days until the fibers become flexible and transparent.
 The papyrus strips are then cut to the required length and placed on a piece of cotton, each at a slight overlap, making two layers: one horizontal and the other vertical.  The papyrus sheets are put between two pieces of cardboard and placed under a hand press until dry. The cardboard is changed every eight hours and the drying process takes about three days.
 Finally, the papyrus sheets are ready for painting and are given to qualified artists. The mediums used are inks, oils, and gouache, although it is also possible to write, typewrite and draw on papyrus. |