Hand Painted Papyrus

This papyrus is approximately 8 x 11 inches and was handmade and hand-painted in Egypt using ancient techniques. The process is described in detail on the insert included in the package:

"Over 4,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians discovered how to make a strong, durable paper from the papyrus plants that grew along the banks of the Nile River. It was the world's first paper, replacing stone tablets as a way of recording history. Thanks to these ingenious Egyptians, the stories of their civilization have been preserved for centuries. Papyrus plants can grow as high as 12 feet each, with long stems and thin flowers. Paper was made from the stem of the plant, after it was discovered that papyrus juices became a strong glue when dried. After a papyrus plant was harvested and cut to the desired length, the triangular shaped stem was peeled, leaving the white inner section called the pith. This pith was then sliced into very thin strips and soaked in water for many days. After soaking, the strips were then placed side-by-side on stone plates, alternating the direction of the strips in a lattice formation, making a sheet of papyrus. The sheet was then rolled and beaten to bond the strips together. Then the sheet of papyrus was placed between felt mats to absorb the water. Heavy stones were placed on these mats to squeeze excess water out of the papyrus. Once dry, the sheets were then scrubbed clean, making them ready to use. The papyrus in this package was hand-made and hand-painted in Egypt, using techniques that date back to ancient times."

It also describes the painting called Judgement Scene: "Anubis, god of the underworld, brought the soul of a deceased person to the gates of the underworld and weighed the person's heart. If the deceased had lived a good life, his or her heart would be as light as the feather of Ma-at and the person's soul would then go on to the afterlife. But, if the heart was heavy with bad deeds, the soul would be eaten and destroyed by the crocodile-headed Ammut."

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