Writing in Graeco-Roman Egypt
Introduction Languages Uses for Writing Literacy Media Final Remarks

P.Mich.inv 2

Papyrus Roll
Iliad Book 18
2nd Century AD

The roll was the usual shape for literary texts written on papyrus. A roll was usually about a foot high and up to a hundred feet long. The text was written in many columns, so that the unused part of the roll could be neatly rolled up on the left and right hand side. This example shows the last five columns of Book 18 of Homer's Iliad. The complete roll would be much longer.


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Images of objects used with permission from the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Copyright 2004 The Regents of the University of Michigan | Last Updated June 10, 2004 .