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Or 11390

Record Id:

032-003387073

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

032-003387073

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100050161762.0x000001

LARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100132595197.0x000001

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

Or 11390

Title:

መጽሐፍ መድኃኒት Mäṣhafä Mädḥanit

Scope & Content:

An Ethiopian manuscript containing:

ff. 1 and 2 were the original flyleaves. A few magical prayers and prescriptions have been written thereon in a second hand.

f.3r. [Saragala Elyas], the secret names of God, thirty-nine in number, with corresponding prescriptions for their use.

Between ff.6-7. A small vellum leaf is bound in containing a magical formula for changing into a lion or another beast.

(f. 3r)– a note: መ[ድኃኒት]፡ ዘቅዱስ፡ መድኃኔ፡ ዓለም፡, i.e. Book Medicine [belonging to the Church] of the Saviour of the World’ at Magdala.

ff. 3v-9r. Mesṭéra Dawit containing prescriptions in Amharic on the therapeutic use of each Psalm.

ff. 9r- 109v. Magical prayers, pictures, and prescriptions, partly for undoing charms, partly against various devils and diseases. This collection is interrupted several times by other texts briefly enumerated below:

f. 24r. Saragala Elyas “The Chariot of Elijah” identical with the text described folio.3r.

ff. 91v-95r. Fekkare Iyasus.

f.98v. A miracle of the Virgin Mary. Between ff. 96-97, and between ff. 98 and 99, two other amulets have been bound.

ff. 98v-99r. Salamtat (praise) to the Virgin Mary.

f. 99r. Hasab (divination) of man who is sick.

f. 99v. Explanation of the seven orders of Ethiopic script by Faraǧ.

f. 100r. Salam (praise) to Joachim and Anne.

f. 100v. Calendar of saints for all the days of the year.

f. 103r. Salam (praise) to Saint George.

ff. 51r-109v. Medical prescriptions from the ‘ Treatise of Therapeutics’ are inserted in different places, separated by magical prayers and prescriptions. The beginning of this treatise is on f. 109v. Folio 109 was erroneously bound in at the end of the manuscript, but its original place was before f. 51 where col. A continues col. C of . 109v.

ff. 73r- 82r. in various places short chapters deal with the healing properties of different items of the material medica, especially of plants.

Colophon: ff. 16v and 19v- king ‘Iyasu (II., A.D. 1730-55). Is mentioned together with the Metropolitan Yohannes (about 1750):… በመንግሥተ፡ ኢያሱ፡ ዮሐንስ፡ The manuscript belonged to St. George’s Church (በታቦተ፡ ጊዮርጊስ፡)

Decoration: This manuscripts over 200 Illustrations of magical pictures, squares and lines of magical and talismans.

Collection Area:

Oriental Manuscripts

Project / Collection:

Ethiopian Manuscripts

Hierarchy Tree:

[{ "id" : "032-003387073", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Or 11390: መጽሐፍ መድኃኒት Mäṣhafä Mädḥanit" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-003387073

Is part of:

not applicable

Hierarchy:

032-003387073

Container:

not applicable

Record Type (Level):

Fonds

Extent:

1 item

Digitised Content:

https://iiif.bl.uk/uv/#?manifest=https://bl.digirati.io/iiif/ark:/81055/vdc_100132595197.0x000001

Thumbnail:

Languages:

Geez

Scripts:

Ethiopic (ge'ez)

Start Date:

1750

End Date:

1750

Date Range:

1750

Era:

Access:

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User Conditions:

Physical Characteristics:

Parchment codex. ff. 109. 235 x 260 mm. 29 or 34 lines to a page. European binding

Custodial History:

Usage Statement: The Ethiopian manuscripts published in digitised format by the British Library are to the best of our knowledge not in copyright under Ethiopian law. However the British Library recognises broader interests in the cultural heritage which the Ethiopian manuscripts represent. The manuscripts included are often of a religious nature, and the Library has taken considerable care not to distort or alter the underlying material. We ask users also to show appropriate respect in reusing the digital images of the Ethiopian manuscripts, which should not be altered or reused in ways that might be derogatory or offensive to the Ethiopian communities for whom they are of special cultural importance.

Finding Aids:

For a more detailed catalogue entry see: Strelcyn, S., 1978. Catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the British Library acquired since the year 1877. London: British Museum Publications. pp. 154-155.

Publications:

Mercier, J. (1979). Ethiopian Magic Scrolls. New York, G. Braziller.

Mercier, J. (1997). Art That Heals: The Image As Medicine In Ethiopia. Munich, Prestel.

Strelcyn, S., 1973. Médecine et plantes d'Éthiopie. Napoli: Istituto Universitario Orientale.

Trousseau, A., Pidoux, H., & Paul, C. (1881). Treatise Of Therapeutics.

Material Type:

Archives and Manuscripts

Legal Status:

Not Public Record(s)