Täˀammərä Maryam (Miracles of Mary)
Täˀammərä Maryam (Miracles of Mary)
MS.000287
Manuscript
18th Century
Ethiopia
Ge'ez
Ink on Parchment
9.8 × 9.3 × 3.1 in. (25 × 23.6 × 7.7 cm)
Not on View
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the most venerated saint in the Ethiopian religious tradition. Over 100 miracles are attributed to her, and many Ethiopian churches are dedicated to her honor. During the reign of King Dawit (r. 1382–1413), a translation of the French (and later Arabic) book the Miracles of Mary was commissioned for his personal use. Later, King Fasilädäs (r. 1632–1667) commissioned many profusely illustrated copies of the Gospels and the Miracles of Mary (called Täˀammərä Maryam). This copy, produced in the eighteenth century, contains 84 miracle stories and two full-page illustrations of Saint George and the Dragon and the Madonna and Child. To learn more about the Miracles of Mary in this manuscript, please visit https://pemm.princeton.edu/manuscripts/MoBEth287.
Created in the eighteenth century, Ethiopia.[1] Possibly acquired by S’ähayä Leda.[2] Purchased privately by Sam Fogg Rare Books and Manuscripts, London, England; Purchased privately in 2010 by the Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2013 to Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] Dated in 2023 by Dr. Steve Delamarter of George Fox University and Dr. Jeremy Brown of the Catholic University of America based on the art, handwriting, and materials. There is no colophon indicating the precise date of creation. [2] Each miracle closes with an invocation for blessings on a certain S’ähayä Leda, above or below which has been inserted the name of Wälättä Maryam, who is variously described as his maidservant or wife. Occasionally, the name Täklä Haymanot, described as S’ähayä Leda’s father, has also been inserted between lines.
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