MS Ethiopian 1

18th century prayers of magical character

Ethiopia, 18th century

Vellum; Material: perg; Scroll composed of three strips. The scroll would have been designed to be equal in length to the height of the person the scroll was composed for, in order that the entirety of the person was protected against demons and the return of evil spirits (Mercier); roll dimensions: diameter 1255 mm, length 120 mm

(1915-12-20): Purchased at auction by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum at Stevens sale 12,725, 14 December 1915, lot 386. Accessioned on 20 December 1915, accession number 36969.

The texts in the three strups were written by different scribed, at least two different hands.

Ge'ez

(not after 1868): Three consecutive owners are named:

(not before 1855, not after 1868): Part of the library of Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopian at Maqdala.

(1868-04): Taken from Maqdala by the British armed forces following the British Expedition to Abyssinia in April 1868.