Stylus

A stylus (plural: styli) is a writing utensil. It usually refers to a narrow, elongated staff, similar to a modern ballpoint pen. Many styli are slightly curved to be held more easily.

Related Topics:
Writing utensil - Ballpoint pen

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Styli were first used by the ancient Mesopotamians in order to write in cuneiform. Styli were usually made out of reeds that grew on the sides of the Tigris and Euphrates and down to Egypt where the Egyptians used styli from sliced reeds with sharp points. Cuneiform was entirely based on the "wedge-shaped" mark that the styli made when pushed into a clay tablet, hence the name cuneiform coming from the Latin root cuneus meaning wedge-shaped.

Related Topics:
Cuneiform - Clay - Tablet - Wedge

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