Princeton Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls 1700-1900

Summary

---

Overview

---

Abstract

Consists of an open collection of Ethiopic magic scrolls.

Description

---

Description

Ethiopic magic scrolls are textual amulets containing brief protective and healing texts in Ge’ez and occasionally Amharic. Ethiopian Christians wore these scrolls on the body in the belief that they prevented disease, death in childbirth, demonic possession, malevolent spirits, the Evil Eye, and other sources of personal misfortune. They were generally prepared by unordained clerics (debtera), who wrote on narrow strips of parchment arranged in scroll format. The magical efficacy of these scrolls is based in large measure on a selection of amuletic texts, apotropaic prayers, charms, incantations, prayers, Scriptural quotations, miracle tales, formulas, invocations of divine names and helpful saints, and images. Most magic scrolls were activated for the use of a particular person, whose name is given. Contributing to their protective power are painted images of guardian angels with drawn swords, St. Susenyos slaying Werzelya for the protection of mothers and infants, magic squares and eight-pointed stars, the net of Solomon for capturing demons, and other figurative illustrations and designs. The magic scrolls were generally rolled up in small leather capsules, enabling them to be worn on the body. Some fairly modern magic scrolls are sewn into the capsules so that they cannot be read, but most could be opened and even hung on walls for prayer and protection. Most extant examples in the Princeton University Library date from the 18th to 20th centuries. For more information, see Jacques Mercier’s Ethiopic Magic Scrolls (1979) and Art that Heals: The Image as Medicine in Ethiopia (1997).

Collection Creator History

Collection History

---

Acquisition

This is an open collection acquired by gift or purchase.

Processing Information

The Library has recently cataloged or recataloged its Ethiopic manuscript collections with generous support from the David A. Gardner ’69 Magic Project, Princeton University, coordinated by the Council of the Humanities. This collection was cataloged by Professor David L. Appleyard, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Bibliography

Ephraim Isaac, "Princeton Collection of Ethiopic Manuscripts," Princeton University Library Chronicle 42:1 (Autumn 1980), pp. 33-52.

Richard Pankhurst, "Secular Themes in Ethiopian Ecclesiastical Manuscripts: V.: A Catalogue of Illustrations of Historical and Ethnographic Interest in Princeton University Library and Art Gallery," Journal of Ethiopian Studies 22 (November 1989), pp. 31-64.

Don C. Skemer, "Princeton’s Ethiopic Manuscript Collections at 100," Princeton University Library Chronicle 71:3 (Spring 2010), pp. 461-466.

Access and Use

---

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

Princeton Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls; 1700-1900, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Find More

---

Topics

• Africa

Subject Terms

• Ethiopia
• Ethiopian magic scrolls
• History
• Magic, Ethiopian
• Sources

Genre Terms

• Manuscript. Ethiopic

Related Material

Princeton University Library has two other collections of Ethiopic magic scrolls: Robert Garrett Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls (C0944.04. which is part of the larger Robert Garrett Collection, and Bruce C. Willsie Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls (C0943).

Contents and Arrangement

---

Arrangement

Arranged by item number, beginning with No. 163. (Nos. 1-162 form the Robert Garrett Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls, C0744.04). No. 166 is not assigned.

	Title	Date	Container
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 163	late 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 164	mid/late 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 165	mid/late 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 167	mid 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 168	mid/late 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 169	mid 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 170	late 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 171	mid/late 19th century	Box 4
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 172	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 173	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 174	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 175	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 176	Early 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 177	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 178	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 179	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 180	Early 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 181	late 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 182	Early 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 183	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 184	late 19th century or early 20th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 185	mid/late 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 186	mid 19th century	Box 5
	Princeton Ethiopic Magic Scroll No. 187	mid/late 19th century	Box 5