52 Weeks of Inspiring Illustrations, Week 38: Angels, Madonnas and Pilgrims — an Ethiopian treasure

speccoll
Monday 11 March 2013
The first page
The first page of ms38900, an illustrated Ethiopian psalter from c. 18th century, depicting the Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, Joseph and angels.

These vibrant illustrations of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ and angels come from an Ethiopian psalter purchased for Special Collections last summer. Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian countries, having been converted in the 4th c by missionaries from Syria, but then isolated for centuries from other Christian countries. This isolation meant that traditions and liturgy changed much more slowly in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church than in places subject to outside influence – and so can seem archaic and unfamiliar to us.

Two pages of text from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter.
Two pages of text from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter in Ge’ez (St Andrews ms38900).

The psalter is written in Ge’ez, the language used when the Bible was first translated from the Greek in the 5th century, rather than Amharic, the language of modern day Ethiopia. The text includes the Psalms, traditionally ascribed to King David, prayers of Moses, hymns to the Virgin Mary, and personal notes in a less formal hand at the beginning and end of the book. The striking images seem very different to those we are used to in Western religious manuscripts, yet they show the influence of European ideas.

Illustration of King David with harp from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (ms38900).
Illustration of King David with harp from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900).
An illuminated initial of King David from a 15th century English psalter (St Andrews msBX2033.A00).
An illuminated initial of King David from a 15th century English psalter (St Andrews msBX2033.A00).

The image of King David with his Eastern harp is different in style but very similar in content to the King David in our own 15th c English psalter (pictured left); both have servants in the background although our David didn’t need the fly whisk.

Pilgrims giving thanks for their safe arrival in Lalibela (above); Priests celebrating Christmas mass (below). Photographs by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
Pilgrims giving thanks for their safe arrival in Lalibela (above); Priests celebrating Christmas mass (below). Photographs by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
A modern religious icon (above) and modern manuscript (below) from Ethiopia. Photographs by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
A modern religious icon (above) and modern manuscript (below) from Ethiopia. Photographs by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.

Having been on holiday to Ethiopia this January, I was intrigued to see how very alive this artistic tradition still is, in the form of religious texts, icons, church paintings, monastic decoration and tourist souvenirs. Religious observance is still very strong both in the Orthodox Christian and the Muslim communities; I visited at the time of Orthodox Christmas (7th January) and shared the celebrations with thousands of white-clad pilgrims and a multitude of chanting priests amongst the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

An illustration of God surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900).
An illustration of God surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900).

In the market here were numerous modern reproductions of icons and manuscripts featuring illustrations very similar to those in the Psalter. Two sorts of traditional manuscripts are still being produced – the codex for religious works, and long strips of parchment inscribed with magic devices and spells carried as an amulet. Special Collections also owns one of these scrolls.

An illustration of an  Archangel protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900).
An illustration of an Archangel protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900).
An illustration of Archangel Michael defeating the Devil from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
An illustration of Archangel Michael defeating the Devil from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
Photograph of Archangel Michael, wall-painting in Narga Selassie monastery. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
Photograph of Archangel Michael, wall-painting in Narga Selassie monastery. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.

In this distinctive religious iconography angels are very popular, and many icons and wall paintings in churches feature the Archangels Gabriel and Michael, as well as numerous saints, especially St George killing the dragon. The cult of Mary ensures ubiquitous Madonna and Child portraits as well as scenes from the life of Mary and in particular the flight to Egypt which is believed by Ethiopians to have been via their own country.

An illustration of the Crucifixion with Mary and probably Mary Magdalene from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
An illustration of the Crucifixion with Mary and probably Mary Magdalene from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
Photograph of a wall of paintings at Ura Kidhane Mihret monastery. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
Photograph of a wall of paintings at Ura Kidhane Mihret monastery. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.

The psalter is thought to date from the 18th century although it is very hard to date these manuscripts. The illustrations appear to be more recent additions, although their position at the start and end of the text rather than within the text is traditional. Their iconography is conservative, but the intensity of the colours, lack of dirt and hints of writing underneath some of the paintings suggest they are copies of older works, or a refreshing of the original paintings, a process seen in the monasteries of Lake Tana – their richly, almost overwhelmingly, decorated walls have been restored, copying faithfully the style of the earlier paintings.

Wooden front cover of an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
Wooden front cover of an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
Photograph of a new prayer book seen in Lalibela market, Ethiopia. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
Photograph of a new prayer book seen in Lalibela market, Ethiopia. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.

The wooden covers have both been mended, one with strips of leather, the other with copper wire. The parchment is probably goat. The binding with link-stitch thread, made traditionally of animal tendon, now of cotton, linen or synthetic string, is still in use today as on this manuscript from Lalibela market.  The text is in black ink with important words such as nomina sacra and headings in red, as well as to emphasis punctuation, with ornamental bands are used on important pages.

An illustration of the Resurrection from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
An illustration of the Resurrection from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter (St Andrews ms38900)
Photograph of bound volumes from the Library at the monastery of Daga Stefanos. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
Photograph of bound volumes from the Library at the monastery of Daga Stefanos. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
An Ethiopian priest blessing a woman with a copy of the gospels on her back, in a ceremony to bring her fertility. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.
An Ethiopian priest blessing a woman with a copy of the gospels on her back, in a ceremony to bring her fertility. Photograph by Maia Sheridan, January 2013.

It is now illegal to take ancient manuscripts out of the country, as so many have been lost, sold or stolen over the years. They are prized by their monastic owners and kept carefully in locked cabinets and treasuries, such as this library full of cloth covered volumes at a Lake Tana monastery. The power of the sacred texts is still respected and sought out – the photograph featured on the left shows a priest blessing a woman with a copy of the gospels on her back, in a ceremony to bring her fertility.

From a similar part of the world we also have a Coptic psalter, written in Egypt, which is quite different in style.

To see digitised Ethiopian manuscripts, check out the Ethiopian Manuscript Imaging Project on the Vivarium website.

Maia Sheridan

Manuscripts Archivist

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5 thoughts on "52 Weeks of Inspiring Illustrations, Week 38: Angels, Madonnas and Pilgrims — an Ethiopian treasure"

  • imbuteria
    imbuteria
    Monday 11 March 2013, 9.51pm

    Reblogged this on Imbuteria's Blog.

    Reply
  • 52 Weeks of Inspiring Illustrations, Week 38: Angels, Madonnas and Pilgrims — an Ethiopian treasure | Special Collections Librarianship | Scoop.it
    Monday 18 March 2013, 11.05am

    [...] The first page of ms38900, an illustrated Ethiopian psalter from c. 18th century, depicting the Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, Joseph and angels.  [...]

    Reply
  • Folding Passion icon from Ethiopia, ca. 1900 | The Jesus Question
    Saturday 14 June 2014, 10.18pm

    […] Special Collections of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland: This link shows illuminations from an eighteenth-century Ethiopian psalter. […]

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  • On the etymology of شيطان ‘Satan’ in Arabic | burj bābil
    Monday 29 May 2017, 8.28pm

    […] An illustration of Archangel Michael defeating the Devil from an 18th century Ethiopian psalter. Source. […]

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  • Lucy Hamilton
    Lucy Hamilton
    Sunday 1 May 2022, 7.23pm

    I have a painting that my uncle (David Hamilton) bought when living in Ethiopia in the 1960s/70s. It consists of 44 pictures clearly telling a story, possibly biblical. there is writing above and below each picture, possibly in Amharic. I have no idea how old it was when he bought it but would love to know its story. PLease can i send you a picture of it. many thanks Lucy

    Reply

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