Manuscript Migration: The Multiple Lives of the Rubenstein Library's Collections

Ethiopic Manuscript 003

Amulet of Ethiopic MS 003, “Magic” Scroll,

Duke has a total of 47 scrolls, which are usually referred to as “magic” or “religious” scrolls. These scrolls are composed of prayers for healing illnesses, driving out demons, or dealing with other economic and social challenges in the community. The prayers were most likely written by a däbtära, an unordained religious member of the community who serves in multiple roles as scribe, chant leader, and assistant during liturgies.

This particular scroll contains prayers against demons, colic, and “the harm caused by the tongues of men.” It was initially rolled in the accompanying amulet, which would have been worn by the person seeking protection. It contains a miniature of an archangel with an unsheathed sword, probably St. Phanuel. The caption at the end of the scroll indicates that the scroll was copied for Marata Walatta Madḫen.

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Gay Byron, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Howard University, studied the Ethiopian Manuscript Collection as a Duke Humanities Unbounded Visiting Faculty Fellow in 2021-2022 and continues her research and publications in Ethiopic Manuscripts.

Brogan Hannon, Doctoral Student in the Religion Department, Duke University, assisted Gay Byron in researching the Ethiopic Manuscripts during the 2021-2023 Manuscript Migration Lab.

 

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