Mark E. Shoulson wrote:

>
> Randall Hunt wrote:
>
> >Mr. Daniels wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Vellum is (etymologically) calfskin, usually denoting merely a fine
> >>grade of parchment. Paper would go together with papyrus (and palm
> >>leaves) as a vegetal writing surface.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >Parchment [from Pergamum, an ancient Greek city] was developed under King
> >Eumenes II (197-158 B.C.E.). It is made traditionally from the split skin
> >of a sheep or goat, soaked in lime, scraped, stretched and dried.
> >
> I'll have to look this up and get the details right, but this reminds me
> of a distinction made in the Talmud regarding writing Torah, Mezuzah,
> and phylactery scrolls. They speak of three kinds of parchment: g'vil,
> klaf, and duchsutus (I think). One is unsplit, one is split and is the
> thick (flesh?) side, and one is split and is the other side. And they
> discuss which can be used to write which article, and on which side each
> flavor of hide is to be written, etc etc...

That third one doesn't sound like an Aramaic word ... do let me know the
reference! (Maybe I can remember to look in Jastrow.)
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...