scroll

written work

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A scroll is a roll of material, such as papyrus, leather, or parchment, used for writing documents. Historically, scrolls were a primary method for recording and transporting written information before the advent of the codex and printed books.123

Key characteristics of scrolls include:
* Material: Commonly made from papyrus in ancient Egypt, or parchment and leather in other regions.13
* Form: Written on one side and rolled into a cylinder for storage and transport.4
* Usage: Employed for various texts, including religious scriptures like the Hebrew Bible and biblical fragments found at Qumran.4

Scrolls offered advantages for long texts but were less convenient than later formats like the codex, which allowed for easier navigation and writing on both sides of the page.2

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biblical literature
Types of writing materials and methods
Scrolls were made by gluing together papyrus sheets (made from the pith of the papyrus reed) or by sewing together parchment leaves (made from treated and scraped animal skins); they were written in columns and read by shifting the roll backward and forward from some…
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Scrolls were made by gluing together papyrus sheets (made from the pith of the papyrus reed) or by sewing together parchment leaves (made from treated and scraped animal skins); they were written in columns and read by shifting the roll backward and forward from some…
Read More