Scroll is a roll of paper, papyrus, parchment, or other material, especially with writing or pictures on it. Most scrolls are wound around rods of bronze, ivory, or wood. Sometimes the rods are decorated at both ends with small knobs or other ornaments. The knobs protect the scrolls and make them easier to handle. A scroll is often fastened at both ends so it can be unwound from one rod and rolled up onto the other as it is used.
The Egyptians began using scrolls of papyrus during the 2000’s B.C. Egyptologists—that is, historians of Egypt—call these papyrus scrolls rolls. Beginning in the 1000’s B.C., the Hebrews made scrolls of treated animal skins for their sacred writings because these outlasted papyrus. Later, the Greeks and Romans popularized a way of preparing skins to make a durable writing surface called parchment. They pasted together many sheets side by side to form long strips that were wound around the rods. The Chinese and Japanese still use silk and paper scrolls for paintings and writings.
Ancient scrolls influenced our modern vocabulary. When looking at a computer screen, we say we are “scrolling down the page,” when we move to an unread section.
