Uncovering Ancient Egyptian Papyrus: Insights into Writing and Life
Explore the world of ancient Egyptian papyrus, a material used for writing and preserving knowledge. From hieroglyphic texts to depictions of daily life and afterlife beliefs, discover the significance of papyrus in understanding the culture of ancient Egypt.
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Reading a papyrus Mini-lesson for schools
Papyrus Papyrus is made from pressed reeds that grew on the banks of the Nile. It was used for everyday writing, but also for documents which were put in the tomb with the dead. It can get damaged over time. Museums used to cut the rolls of papyrus into sheets for easier storage and display.
Papyrus What is ancient Egyptian writing called? Hieroglyphics, it is a form of picture writing. The Egyptians wrote hieroglyphs on papyrus with a reed pen. Can you see the hieroglyphic writing on this papyrus? Sometimes the hieroglyphics were drawn carefully. Sometimes they were done in a quicker version like handwriting known as hieratic.
Papyrus What can be seen on papyrus? hieroglyphs (written with a pen) pictures (painted) In tomb papyri, the pictures can show deities (gods and goddesses) humans objects
Papyrus from the Book of the Dead of Nakht. Papyrus provides information about everyday life in ancient Egypt and the beliefs of the afterlife. Can you find these people and gods? Can you find these features of the ancient Egyptian environment? Can you find some things people wore? Can you find these Egyptian symbols? What can you see on this papyrus? Tjuiu (Nakht s wife) crook and flail trees Osiris wigs hieroglyphs a house ankh a pool linen robes jewellery Maat Nakht (the deceased)
Scene from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer showing a funeral Can you see ... the mummy? the tomb? the mourners? the priests? the ceremonial objects on a table? the chest of food offerings? the god Anubis?
A scene showing the afterlife from the Book of the Dead of Nakht This papyrus shows us some of the activities that the ancient Egyptians believed a person had to do in the afterlife. weighing his heart against the feather of truth? Can you see Nakht rowing a boat? Nakht, the tomb owner, is shown 8 times on the papyrus. looking after the crops? worshipping the gods? ploughing the fields?
Now you have finished Find out more about ancient Egyptian papyri Visit the main Museum website www.britishmuseum.org
