Demeke Explains Ethiopian Manuscripts: Part III

Ato Demeke Berhane shows and discusses Ethiopian manuscripts in Ge'ez, pointing out aspects of their binding, wooden board covers, cloth backings, cloth cotton covers to protect illuminations, and changing numbers, on a fifteenth-century manuscript. He also discuses the use of color in the particular manuscript, pointing out that all the persons--Jesus, saints, the Virgin Mary--are black. He discusses the importance of studying these manuscripts, their technology, calligraphy, paleography, and symbols for understanding Ethiopian history, literature, languages, cultures, and philosophy. Using a manuscript restored by an Italian expert, he points out the placement and meaning of marginal notes, decorative designs, leather exteriors, materials used in making the books. He spends time on a late-seventeenth-century manuscript, which includes an illumination of St Raphael, showing the good men protected by him, his wings, and variation in decorative borders from other styles; an illumination of King David who is using a fly whisk and has servants wearing combs in their hair; and an illumination of two Ethiopian saints including Saint Takla Haymanot. These manuscripts are mines of information about many subjects, Demeke concludes. Wendy Belcher conducted the interview with the Head of the Manuscript and Archives Department at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University on May 10, 2007.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ethiopian manuscripts
• Ge'ez manuscripts
• illuminations
• paleography
• calligraphy
• African intellectuals
• East African history

[resurgam44]

@bekelemess

Gloves aren't really necessary. Books have been man-handled for centuries without the use of gloves, so there is really no need to start using them now. In fact, since a delicate antiquarian touch is so important, the use of gloves can do more harm than good, since they add an extra layer of material between the finger and the page. The whole "experts using gloves" thing was started in the 20th century to assert a false sense of academic authority. I should know: I'm an academic. :P

[EriPages]

@tadelesh12

Yes...it's disheartening...infuriating...

Buildings can be rebuilt...but ancient text? FUCK the sudanese/egyptians/arabs/somal­ians/afars/ottoman turks for their constant Islamic Invasions & vandalism

[jrpone]

God I love Ethiopia!!

[tadelesh12]

Great work Ato Demeke!

Do you have any ideas that how many manuscripts lost and burnt to ground during all the enemies Ethiopia faced?

I have read there were thousands, but

stolen and burnt.

[bekelemess]

nice properties that we have to keep and transfer to the next generation.

I think it is better to use hand gloves since touching them with hands shortens their life.

I see very often people touching them with out gloves.