Egyptian paper is a term used to describe the ancient writing material known as PAPYRUS. PAPYRUS was made from the stem of the PAPYRUS plant, which was abundant in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. It was used for writing and painting from around 3000 BC until the Middle Ages. PAPYRUS was made by cutting the stem into thin strips, then laying them out in horizontal and vertical layers and pressing them together. The result was a strong, durable material that could be written on with ink or paint.