“In the second century B.C., Eumenes II, ruler of the Asia Minor kingdom Pergamum, decided to build a grand new library, and asked the Egyptians to send him papyrus for his scribes to write on. The Egyptians refused, not caring to see a rival to their world-famous library at Alexandria. Eumenes therefore reverted to the earlier practice of writing on prepared skin, but cut down production costs by writing on both sides. The library was built in due course, and for a time did give Alexandria a run for its money. The writing skins came to be known as pergamene, after the country and its capital city. Later, however, Parthia became the dominant kingdom of Asia Minor, and the name of the skins was changed to Particaminum–‘Parthian leather’; in Enlgish, parchment.”
– – From The Game of Words by Willard R. Espy.