MS Ethiopian 8

19th century prayers of magical character

Ethiopia, 19th century

Vellum; Material: perg; Scroll composed of 4 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 75 mm, length 2180 mm

(1924-07-29): Purchased at auction by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum at Stevens, 29 July 1924, lot 197. Accessioned in October 1937, accession number 88612

Large, fluent and rather careful handwriting.

Ge'ez

(not after 1868): Previous owner named as .

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

(1868-04): Taken from Maqdala by Lieutenant Charles Searle Cardale during the British Expedition to Abyssinia in April 1868.