Читать книгу Memory of the World: The treasures that record our history from 1700 BC to the present day - UNESCO - Страница 63
ОглавлениеTreasures from National Archives and Library organizations
Inscribed 1997
What are they
These treasures are a small selection of rare Ethiopian manuscripts and include religious texts of the 14th and 15th centuries; royal correspondence to European monarchs; the first printed Ethiopian publication (1513); and manuscripts from the 18th to the 20th century, relating Ethiopian history.
Why were they inscribed
Ethiopia has rare, precious and priceless manuscripts mainly written in the Geez language in the form of verse and prose which reflect its indigenous civilization.
Where are they
National Archives and Library, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
It is estimated that there are some 500,000 historical manuscripts in Ethiopia. Aware of their historical, religious, philosophical, artistic and socio-cultural values, the Ethiopian National Archives and Library has been collecting manuscripts for scholastic research and preservation for future generations. A few highlights of their manuscript collection are included in this inscription and are detailed below.
The manuscript of the Fourth Gospel was written on vellum in the Geez language in the 14th century. The first forty-five pages of the book are filled with painted images, particularly of Jesus Christ, his followers, saints and angels. The Homily of the Passion of our Lord and Services for Passion Week was written on vellum in the Geez language in the 15th century. The writing is bold and neat, and the text is bound with wooden boards covered with stamped leather. The manuscript of St Paul’s Gospel was written on vellum in the Geez language in the 15th century. It includes a painted picture of St Paul and his followers. The manuscript of Henock was written on vellum in the Geez language in the 15th century. The writing is fine and neat and there are marginal notes on each page. The Psalterium Davidis was written by Johannes Potken in the Geez language with an introduction in German and was printed in Rome in 1513. It is considered to be the first printed publication in Ethiopian history. The manuscript of Anaphora was written on vellum in the Geez language in the 17th century. There is musical notation over most of the text and it has marginal notes and designs. From the 19th century The Letter from King Tewdros to Queen Victoria of Britain, the Letter from King Menelik II to Tsar Nicolas II of Russia and the Letter from King Sahleselassie of Shoa to the Queen Victoria of Britain deal with the relations, not always cordial, between Ethiopia, Britain and Russia. The manuscript Fetha Negest (Nomocanon) was written on vellum in the Geez language in the 19th century. The manuscript of the History of Menelik II was written on paper in the Amharic language in the 19th century. It has marginal notes and designs, is illuminated and contains musical notation. The manuscript of the Tarike Negest (History of Kings) was written on vellum in the Geez and Amharic languages in the 20th century.
