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Willsie Ethiopic Magic Scroll No.241, Mid 19th century

Item Number:
241
Collection Creator:
Willsie, Bruce C., 1957-
Dates:
Mid 19th century
Located In:
Box 7
Physical Description:
4 pieces of parchment sewn together. 2 cols., written in black with rubrics in a small, moderate hand (3mm), framed within and separated by a simple uncolored linear border. 3 talismanic drawings. There is a leather thong at the bottom of the scroll for tying. The scroll is currently rolled from top to bottom. The lay-out and the style of the drawings suggest this scroll was written by the same scribe as #228.
Languages:
Geez Amharic
Scope and Contents

Drawings:

Guardian angel holding a drawn sword, with a supplicant female figure on the left-hand side. Decorative borders above and below. (In ink with yellow and red color.)

An unexplained composition: a figure in profile (and thus evil or demonic), seated on a high dais, wielding a sword or baton in one hand and carrying a handkerchief in the other and wearing a head-band or filet; a smaller figure, also carrying a handkerchief, approaches from the right, one hand raised in supplication. (In ink with red and yellow color.)

Knot-work cruciform design with central face. (In ink with yellow and some red color.)

Owner: Wälättä Iyäsus (f.) overwritten with the name of Wälättä Sellasé.

Access Restrictions:
The collection is open for research use.
Credit this material:

Willsie Ethiopic Magic Scroll No.241; Bruce C. Willsie Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls, C0943, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
Firestone Library (hsvm): Box 7
System Identifier:
/repositories/5/archival_objects/1194359

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Description:

The collection consists of an open collection of Ethiopic magic scrolls, chiefly dating from the 18th to 20th centuries, collected by Bruce C. Willise (Princeton Class of 1896). This collection supplements the Ethiopic magic scroll holdings of the Garrett and Princeton Collections. Currently, there are 349 scrolls. Scroll #120 is unassigned.

Collection History

Archival Appraisal Information:

No appraisal information is available.

Access & Use

Access Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions for Reproduction and Use:

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Credit this material:

Willsie Ethiopic Magic Scroll No.241; Bruce C. Willsie Collection of Ethiopic Magic Scrolls, C0943, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
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Storage Note:
Firestone Library (hsvm): Box 7

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