Amulet Scroll , Ethiopia, late 19th century, Black and red ink on parchment, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, MSS 08024

Amulet Scroll , Ethiopia, late 19th century, Black and red ink on parchment, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, MSS 08024

Used for protection against illness, difficult childbirth, and the evil eye, this Ethiopian amulet scroll (Amharic kitab, Arabic for "book") was created by an ordained minister (Amharic debtara) from pieces of parchment tailored to the height of the owner"s body. Inscribed with healing prayers, talismans, and images of armed angels, amulet scrolls like this one might be placed in a leather case to be worn or hung on a wall, and could also be wrapped around the body of the deceased as a form of prayer.

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

late 19th century

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

Dimensions: 16.9cm wide by about 2 metres long when fully unrolled

Material: black and red ink on parchment

Ge'ez

Fisher MSS 08024

Ethiopia