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Details
MAGIC SCROLL, in Ge'ez, DECORATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
[Ethiopia, second half of the 19th century]
approximately 2060 x 78mm, 4 membranes, column of text written in black and red ink in a neat traditional hand, THREE TALISMANIC DRAWINGS: an 8-pointed star with a central face of a cherub; a guardian angel; an abstract development of the common 8-pointed star image, in black and brown (some areas rubbed with loss of ink or pigment, notably to first image and some text in lower membrane).
Amulet scrolls carry magic formulas and prayers for the protection against the Evil Eye, malevolent spirits or physical ailments. These spells are in textual and figural form. The Seal of Solomon, represented in varying forms, seen here in the first image of a face within an 8-pointed star, and in its abstract form in the last image, scares away demons. The present scroll contains various prayers against barya, légéwon, various forms of the evil eye and ailments such as rheumatism, indigestion or stomach pains, and cramps. The name of the original owner has been erased and replaced with that of Wälättä Sellasé or Wälättä Täklä Haymanot.
[Ethiopia, second half of the 19th century]
approximately 2060 x 78mm, 4 membranes, column of text written in black and red ink in a neat traditional hand, THREE TALISMANIC DRAWINGS: an 8-pointed star with a central face of a cherub; a guardian angel; an abstract development of the common 8-pointed star image, in black and brown (some areas rubbed with loss of ink or pigment, notably to first image and some text in lower membrane).
Amulet scrolls carry magic formulas and prayers for the protection against the Evil Eye, malevolent spirits or physical ailments. These spells are in textual and figural form. The Seal of Solomon, represented in varying forms, seen here in the first image of a face within an 8-pointed star, and in its abstract form in the last image, scares away demons. The present scroll contains various prayers against barya, légéwon, various forms of the evil eye and ailments such as rheumatism, indigestion or stomach pains, and cramps. The name of the original owner has been erased and replaced with that of Wälättä Sellasé or Wälättä Täklä Haymanot.