What: An Ethiopian manuscript, likely late 17th century, of Job, Proverbs and other Old Testament books
Where: Bodleian Library, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG
MS 44 “belonged to the Church of Medhane ‘Alam at Magdala” (f. 2a) and was no doubt brought to Europe by a member of Lord Napier’s British Expedition in 1868,” according to Edward Ullendorff’s Catalogue of Ethiopian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: Volume II.n “Purchased in 1879,” he adds.
Ullendorf’s book describes 66 manuscripts in the Bodleian collection. He writes: “On the whole, it is safe to assume that the majority of the MSS here described, were acquired in Ethiopia by individual members of Napier’s expedition in 1867-8. After the death of their owners many found their way to auction sales and were then purchased by the Bodleian Library.”
Rita Pankhurst’s paper The Library of Emperor Tewodros II at Mäqdäla is more conservative and lists MS 36 as one of five manuscripts in the Bodleian Library that certainly or very likely came from Magdala, on top of six manuscripts that probably did.
She adds: “Thirty-two other manuscripts in the Bodleian could conceivably have also come from Maqdala although there is no evidence to this effect.”
Many of the Western academics who got a first look at the manuscripts were scornful.
Here is Jacob Leveen on some of the manuscripts listed in Ullendorff’s catalogue:
“Of the 66 items catalogued here, a large proportion consists of copies of those magical scrolls, which are perhaps too well represented in the libraries of Europe. They offer a melancholy spectacle of the depths of credulity and superstition to which Abyssinians sank. The hagiographical literature is no less depressing, with its exhibition of ‘Mariolatry run mad’ (as Willliam Wright so aptly called it).” [Jacob Leveen’s review of Ullendorff, E. (1951). Catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: 2 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press]
What: An Ethiopian manuscript, probably late 18th century, including Guba’e Salamta, miscellaneous hymns and miracles
Where: Bodleian Library, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG
MS 54 “originates from the Church of Madhane ‘Alam (f.3a, top), and may be assumed to have been brought to this country by a member of Napier’s British Expedition in 1867/8,” according to Edward Ullendorff’s Catalogue of Ethiopian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: Volume II. “Purchased in 1938,” he adds.
Ullendorf’s book describes 66 manuscripts in the Bodleian collection. He writes: “On the whole, it is safe to assume that the majority of the MSS here described, were acquired in Ethiopia by individual members of Napier’s expedition in 1867-8. After the death of their owners many found their way to auction sales and were then purchased by the Bodleian Library.”
Rita Pankhurst’s paper The Library of Emperor Tewodros II at Mäqdäla is more conservative and lists MS 54 as one of five manuscripts in the Bodleian Library that certainly or very likely came from Magdala, on top of six manuscripts that probably did.
She adds: “Thirty-two other manuscripts in the Bodleian could conceivably have also come from Maqdala although there is no evidence to this effect.”
Many of the Western academics who got a first look at the manuscripts were scornful.
Here is Jacob Leveen on some of the manuscripts listed in Ullendorff’s catalogue:
“Of the 66 items catalogued here, a large proportion consists of copies of those magical scrolls, which are perhaps too well represented in the libraries of Europe. They offer a melancholy spectacle of the depths of credulity and superstition to which Abyssinians sank. The hagiographical literature is no less depressing, with its exhibition of ‘Mariolatry run mad’ (as Willliam Wright so aptly called it).” [Jacob Leveen’s review of Ullendorff, E. (1951). Catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: 2 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press]
What: A fragment of a manuscript, possibly 17th century, of the discourse of Cyriacus of Behnesa
Where: Bodleian Library, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG
Pencil note at f. 1a: “said to have been taken from a Church at Magdala in 1868′.
MS 44 “no doubt formed part of a fine specimen kept in the Church of Madhana ‘Alam at Magdala, and was brought to the country by a member of Napier’s Expedition in 1867/8,” according to Edward Ullendorff’s Catalogue of Ethiopian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: Volume II. “Acquired between 1868 and 1886,” he adds.
Ullendorf’s book describes 66 manuscripts in the Bodleian collection. He writes: “On the whole, it is safe to assume that the majority of the MSS here described, were acquired in Ethiopia by individual members of Napier’s expedition in 1867-8. After the death of their owners many found their way to auction sales and were then purchased by the Bodleian Library.”
Rita Pankhurst’s paper The Library of Emperor Tewodros II at Mäqdäla is more conservative and lists MS 76 as one of five manuscripts in the Bodleian Library that certainly or very likely came from Magdala, on top of six manuscripts that probably did.
She adds: “Thirty-two other manuscripts in the Bodleian could conceivably have also come from Maqdala although there is no evidence to this effect.”
Many of the Western academics who got a first look at the manuscripts were scornful.
Here is Jacob Leveen on some of the manuscripts listed in Ullendorff’s catalogue:
“Of the 66 items catalogued here, a large proportion consists of copies of those magical scrolls, which are perhaps too well represented in the libraries of Europe. They offer a melancholy spectacle of the depths of credulity and superstition to which Abyssinians sank. The hagiographical literature is no less depressing, with its exhibition of ‘Mariolatry run mad’ (as Willliam Wright so aptly called it).” [Jacob Leveen’s review of Ullendorff, E. (1951). Catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: 2 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press]
What: A “particularly fine” Ethiopian manuscript, probably early 17th century, including the Life and Miracles of Takla Haymanot, many illustrations and the signatures of the Magdala prisoners.
Where: Bodleian Library, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG
According to Edward Ullendorff’s Catalogue of Ethiopian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: Volume II: “Arthur Wellesley Ray no doubt acquired this MS. at Magdala and brought it back to Europe when Lord Napier’s Expedition returned. One the same page (f. 1a) we find the original signatures of the prisoners who had been detained at Theodore’s Court and were the object of the British Military Expedition:
H. Rassam Laurence Kerans W. F. Prideaux J. M. Flad
H. Blanc Mrs H. Rosenthal H. Rosenthal H. A. Stern
“The MS. is a particularly fine specimen of Ethiopian MS. art and is in a good condition. Purchased in 1893,” Ullendorf adds.
His catalogue describes 66 manuscripts in the Bodleian collection. He writes: “On the whole, it is safe to assume that the majority of the MSS here described, were acquired in Ethiopia by individual members of Napier’s expedition in 1867-8. After the death of their owners many found their way to auction sales and were then purchased by the Bodleian Library.”
Rita Pankhurst’s paper The Library of Emperor Tewodros II at Mäqdäla is more conservative and lists MS 77 as one of five manuscripts in the Bodleian Library that certainly or very likely came from Magdala, on top of six manuscripts that probably did.
She adds: “Thirty-two other manuscripts in the Bodleian could conceivably have also come from Maqdala although there is no evidence to this effect.”
Many of the Western academics who got a first look at the manuscripts were scornful.
Here is Jacob Leveen on some of the manuscripts listed in Ullendorff’s catalogue:
“Of the 66 items catalogued here, a large proportion consists of copies of those magical scrolls, which are perhaps too well represented in the libraries of Europe. They offer a melancholy spectacle of the depths of credulity and superstition to which Abyssinians sank. The hagiographical literature is no less depressing, with its exhibition of ‘Mariolatry run mad’ (as Willliam Wright so aptly called it).” [Jacob Leveen’s review of Ullendorff, E. (1951). Catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: 2 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press]
What: An Ethiopian manuscript, probably 17th Century, including the Psalms, prayers, the Song of Songs and the Weddase Marayam. One page only has the bottom corner left.
Where: Bodleian Library, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG
MS 44 “appears to have been brought to this country by a member of Napier’s British Expedition in 1868 and to have belonged to the collection of MSS. at the Church of Medhane ‘Alam at Magdala,” according to Edward Ullendorff’s Catalogue of Ethiopian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: Volume II.
Ullendorf’s book describes 66 manuscripts in the Bodleian collection. He writes: “On the whole, it is safe to assume that the majority of the MSS here described, were acquired in Ethiopia by individual members of Napier’s expedition in 1867-8. After the death of their owners many found their way to auction sales and were then purchased by the Bodleian Library.”
Rita Pankhurst’s paper The Library of Emperor Tewodros II at Mäqdäla is more conservative and lists MS 44 as one of five manuscripts in the Bodleian Library that certainly or very likely came from Magdala, on top of six manuscripts that probably did.
She adds: “Thirty-two other manuscripts in the Bodleian could conceivably have also come from Maqdala although there is no evidence to this effect.”
Many of the Western academics who got a first look at the manuscripts were scornful.
Here is Jacob Leveen on some of the manuscripts listed in Ullendorff’s catalogue:
“Of the 66 items catalogued here, a large proportion consists of copies of those magical scrolls, which are perhaps too well represented in the libraries of Europe. They offer a melancholy spectacle of the depths of credulity and superstition to which Abyssinians sank. The hagiographical literature is no less depressing, with its exhibition of ‘Mariolatry run mad’ (as Willliam Wright so aptly called it).” [Jacob Leveen’s review of Ullendorff, E. (1951). Catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the Bodleian Library: 2 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press]
