Ca. 323 BC-500 AD. Graeco-Roman Period. Fragments of papyrus inscribed with Demotic text in black ink. Demotic was the fourth phase of the Egyptian language, used between the 7th century BC and 5th century AD. It featured a script that was a highly schematised simplification of hieroglyphics, to enable more practical and rapid writing. Papyrus was a practical precursor to paper, predating parchment by millennia. Because of this, it was widely consumed throughout the Mediterranean as a writing surface, and Egypt effectively held a monopoly over this important product. It is manufactured by cutting up strips of the papyrus plant which grows along the Nile, and laying these strips side by side vertically, and then another layer is laid on top of them horizontally. These are then hammered together and dried under pressure. Papyri survive well in the arid regions of Egypt, and much of today's knowledge about the ancient world (even parts beyond Egypt) comes from archives and dumps of papyri in Egypt. Size: L:set of 3: 160mm, 185mm / W:45mm, 120mm ; 3.7g. From a London private family collection; formerly acquired on the UK art market in the 1960s - 1970s; thence by descent.