ART.EGY.3CENBC

Papyrus Fragments

Greek papyrus fragments, Egyptian papyrus fragments

Papyrus was known to the ancient Egyptians, but was not likely used as a surface for writing until much later. Found artifacts and records demonstrate that papyrus was not used in the Early Dynastic period (-3250-2700 BC) since hieroglyphs were used on hard surfaces, such as pottery, bone, and wood. Writing with a reed pen and ink would move the ancient peoples into a more cursive-style script, probably leading to the development of hieratic script (Regulski).

The smaller, framed fragment is inscribed in hieratic, a script derived from hieroglyphs, with the signs being simplified for speed for administrative and business purposes. Hieratic script was also employed to record documents of literary, scientific and religious natures.

The larger fragment is in Greek. Brian Merrill of the department of Humanities and Philosophy was able to confirm this information: "The top fragment is Greek. The bottom is hieratic Egyptian. There isn’t enough Greek for me to work out any words."

***
Regulski, Ilona. "The Beginning of Hieratic Writing in Egypt." Studien Zur Altägyptischen Kultur 38 (2009): 259-74. Accessed April 1, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27751376.

3rd Century B.C.

Egypt (ancient)

300-400 B.C.

Documents

English History of Writing Collection See all items with this value

English Artifact See all items with this value

Hieratic

Greek

Papyrus

Purchased from Artemission

Egyptian language--Papyri, Hieratic See all items with this value