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Egyptians Struggle to Keep The Papyrus Craft Alive

Published August 9th, 2021 - 10:27 GMT

Egyptian farmers and artisans in the Delta Valley are battling to maintain the Pharaonic-era tradition of the papyrus craft.

According to sources, an art teacher in the village of Al-Qaramus, was the one who taught farmers in the 1970s, the way to produce paper decorated with ornate drawings and text out of the plant.

Experts also revealed that the village and its surroundings, located about 80 kilometres northeast of Cairo, is believed to make up the largest hub of papyrus production in Egypt.

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papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

A woman cuts papyrus by a thread at the workshop in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, some kilometres northeast of the capital on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

In the 1970s, a plastic arts teacher taught the farmers how to reappropriate agricultural and artistic techniques dating back millenia to plant the valuable reed and transform it into brownish paper with ornate drawings and text. Al-Qaramus is now the largest hub of papyrus production nationwide, according to agricultural experts. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

In the lush green fields of Egypt's fertile Delta Valley, farmers in the small village of In the lush green fields of Egypt's fertile Delta Valley, farmers in the small village of Al-Qaramus have kept alive the ancient Pharaonic tradition of making papyrus paper. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

In the 1970s, a plastic arts teacher taught the farmers how to reappropriate agricultural and artistic techniques dating back millenia to plant the valuable reed and transform it into brownish paper with ornate drawings and text. Al-Qaramus is now the largest hub of papyrus production nationwide, according to agricultural experts. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

Farmer and painter Said Tarakhan, 60, draws on papyrus sheets at home in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

Farmer and painter Said Tarakhan, 60, draws on papyrus sheets at home in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus

Abdel Mobdi Moussalam, 48, cuts papyrus reeds from his land in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
A woman cuts papyrus by a thread at the workshop in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, some kilometres northeast of the capital on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
In the 1970s, a plastic arts teacher taught the farmers how to reappropriate agricultural and artistic techniques dating back millenia to plant the valuable reed and transform it into brownish paper with ornate drawings and text. Al-Qaramus is now the largest hub of papyrus production nationwide, according to agricultural experts. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
In the lush green fields of Egypt's fertile Delta Valley, farmers in the small village of In the lush green fields of Egypt's fertile Delta Valley, farmers in the small village of Al-Qaramus have kept alive the ancient Pharaonic tradition of making papyrus paper. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
In the 1970s, a plastic arts teacher taught the farmers how to reappropriate agricultural and artistic techniques dating back millenia to plant the valuable reed and transform it into brownish paper with ornate drawings and text. Al-Qaramus is now the largest hub of papyrus production nationwide, according to agricultural experts. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
Farmer and painter Said Tarakhan, 60, draws on papyrus sheets at home in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
Farmer and painter Said Tarakhan, 60, draws on papyrus sheets at home in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
papyrus craft still common in the village of Al-Qaramus
Abdel Mobdi Moussalam, 48, cuts papyrus reeds from his land in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt's northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

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