Details: This large Ethiopian Gospel Book was made in the first half of the sixteenth century and is written in Ge'ez, the traditional liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Containing eleven full-page miniatures, six canon tables, and five elaborately ornamented harags, or headpieces, this manuscript represents...
Details: The Ethiopian hand cross, also known as an Abyssinian cross or Ethiopian-Eritrean cross, is a symbol of Christianity in Ethiopia and Eritrea[1]. It is typically squared with equal length crossbars[2] and often features intricate latticework[3]. Hand crosses are traditionally cut from a single piece of...
Details: The Church of Saint George (Amharic: Bete Giyorgis) is one of eleven rock-hewn monolithic churches in Lalibela, a town in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia[1]. It is the sole architectural structure carved downwards from a type of volcanic tuff[1], and has been dated to the late...
Details: The Monastery of Na’akuto La’ab is located near Lalibela, Ethiopia[2]. It was built by King Na'akuto La'ab, who succeeded his uncle, the famous King Lalibela[2][3]. The monastery is situated in a cave under the cliff[1][2] and is home...
Details: Hand-held crosses, called hand or benediction crosses, are carried by Ethiopian priests and offered to the faithful to be kissed during church services. Made out of metal or wood, the crosses are also used by priests to bless holy water and to perform exorcisms. Beginning in the 16th...
Details: Ethiopian Orthodox art has a long history, dating back to the 4th century when Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia[1]. It includes churches and their decorations, illuminated manuscripts, icons, altars, crosses and other artworks with an Orthodox Christian character[2][3]. Ethiopian painting is highly distinctive and closely related...
Details: The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is a major event in the life of Jesus described in the three synoptic Gospels of the New Testament[1]. It is an act of humility, with Jesus consenting to be counted as if he were a sinner, along with everyone...
Details: Ethiopian angels are featured prominently in Ethiopian Christian art and architecture[4]. They can be found in the form of paintings, statues, and frescos in churches such as Debre Berham Selassie / Trinity at the Mount of Light church[2], Debre Birhan Selassie Church[2], and Holy Trinity Cathedral in...
Details: Walatta Petros (Ge'ez: ወለተ ጴጥሮስ; 1592 – 23 November 1642) was an Ethiopian female saint[1][2]. She is known for resisting conversion to Roman Catholicism because, unfortunately, at the time, the king of Ethiopia was attempting to forcibly convert his subjects from the Tewahedo Church to Roman...
Details: Saint George is a popular figure in Ethiopian iconography, often appearing on horseback driving his lance or spear into the dragon he famously slew[1]. He is venerated as a Christian saint and is the patron saint of Ethiopia[2]. The Church of Saint George, known locally as Bete...
Details: This beautiful brass blessing cross comes from the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition and is used to bless individuals or objects. It is a stunning example of the country's distinctive art and craftsmanship. The cross is hand-held and features intricate latticework characteristic of Ethiopian style and workmanship. The...
Details: Coptic Christians are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is an Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt. The term "Coptic" refers to the ancient Egyptian language, which was spoken in Egypt until the end of the 17th century. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of...
Details: This small icon was worn around the neck to ward off evil; it could be hung with either side facing out. This is a small replica of the famous icon known as the "Kwerata Reesu" (Christ with the Crown of Thorns), believed to protect the whole kingdom...
Details: This small icon was worn around the neck to ward off evil; it could be hung with either side facing out. This is a small replica of the famous icon known as the "Kwerata Reesu" (Christ with the Crown of Thorns), believed to protect the whole kingdom...
Details: This illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels was created at a monastic center in northern Ethiopia. Twenty full-page paintings depict scenes from the life of Christ and four portraits of the evangelists introduce the respective Gospel texts. The New Testament was translated from Greek into Geez, the classical...
Details: This leather-bound manuscript is a prayer book written in Gə’ez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Its 144 folios features three distinct kinds of ornaments: a single full-page illumination; interlaced borders (haräg); and textual ornament, including punctuation marks and headers. The full-page illumination...
Details: This illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels was created at a monastic center in northern Ethiopia. Twenty full-page paintings depict scenes from the life of Christ and four portraits of the evangelists introduce the respective Gospel texts. The New Testament was translated from Greek into Geez, the classical...
Details: The squared cross—in which each of the crossbars is of equal length—is among the most common iterations of the form used in Ethiopian Orthodox art. Artist-monks created nearly infinite variations upon the shape, frequently employing multiple cross motifs within a single cross to emphasize its symbolic...
Details: This illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels was created at a monastic center in northern Ethiopia. Twenty full-page paintings depict scenes from the life of Christ and four portraits of the evangelists introduce the respective Gospel texts. The New Testament was translated from Greek into Geez, the classical...
Details: This illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels was created at a monastic center in northern Ethiopia. Twenty full-page paintings depict scenes from the life of Christ and four portraits of the evangelists introduce the respective Gospel texts. The New Testament was translated from Greek into Geez, the classical...
Details: Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified “Miracles of...
Details: Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified “Miracles of...
Details Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified “Miracles of...
Details In the seventeenth century, Ethiopian artists were increasingly exposed to forms of expression from Europe. During this period, double-sided diptychs became popular among the nobility as pendant icons worn suspended by a cord around the neck. The subject matter depicted on this example is a standard program for...
