Innovation No. 36 of 77 in the book
The Pen
A reed pen that held and delivered ink
- When
- c. 3000 BCE
- Dynasty
- 1st Dynasty
- Era
- Early Dynastic Period
To write finely, you need a tool that holds ink and releases it in a controlled line. Egypt’s answer, from around 3000 BCE, was the reed pen.
Scribes cut the tip of a thin rush into a soft point that drew steady strokes on papyrus and could be re-cut when it wore down.
It set the standard writing instrument for thousands of years, straight through to the quill and the fountain pen it inspired.
The ancestor of every pen was a shaped Egyptian reed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for the pen in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 3000 BCE during Egypt's Early Dynastic (1st Dynasty). To write finely, you need a tool that holds ink and releases it in a controlled line. Egypt’s answer, from around 3000 BCE, was the reed pen.
How did ancient Egyptians develop the pen, and what is its legacy?
Scribes cut the tip of a thin rush into a soft point that drew steady strokes on papyrus and could be re-cut when it wore down. Scribes cut the tip of a thin rush into a soft point that drew steady strokes on papyrus and could be re-cut when it wore down. The ancestor of every pen was a shaped Egyptian reed.