Creative Commons License
Two Ethiopian Prayer Books copied together
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Ethiopia)
This small, undecorated manuscript was written in Geez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and was copied for Gäbrä Giyorgis. Although it has long been considered to be a work of the sixteenth century, the scribe's hand suggests a later date, perhaps in the eighteenth century. The date 1308AH/1890-91CE, given on the verso of the second flyleaf could be for the Arabic notes of the two leaves. Evidence of its long life and variety of users comes in the form of notes scribbled on the flyleaves, with Arabic in two hands covering the front two flyleaves and notes in French and English on the back flyleaf.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Made in north central Ethiopia, 18th century, for Gäbrä Giyorgis [fols. 14v, 20v, 24r, and passim]; Joseph Dietrich, Alexandria, VA [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Mr. Gene Guerny, [date of acquisition unknown] otained from Joseph Dietrich; Walters Art Museum, 1997, by gift.
Geographies
Ethiopia (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 4 1/2 x W: 3 1/16 in. (11.5 x 7.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Gene Guerny, 1997
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.844
