Announcing the Ethiopic Manuscripts Digital Collection 

We are excited to introduce a collection of Ethiopic manuscripts on the Manchester Digital Collections platform. These newly digitised works will offer for the first time at the Rylands a fascinating glimpse into the rich history and cultural heritage of Ethiopia and Eritrea, featuring ten unique manuscripts that span centuries of Ethiopic tradition and scribal culture. 

Highlights of the Collection 

The Digital Collection includes a variety of texts that highlight the spiritual and intellectual traditions of the manuscript cultures that produced them, as well as the intricate artistry and depth of tradition characteristic of Ethiopian and Eritrean tradition. These works include: 

• Homilies, such as the Dersāna Mikā’ēl (Ethiopic MS 11), a beautifully illustrated work often read on feast days dedicated to St. Michael; 
• Biblical works, with both Old and New Testament traditions amply represented, including a copy of Enoch (Ethiopic MS 23), showcasing the deep-rooted biblical traditions within Ethiopic Christianity; 
• Liturgical texts, like the Deggwā (Ethiopic MS 4), an exquisitely copied work complete with musical notation for the entire year. 

Digitisation Project 

Our digitisation project aims to make these manuscripts accessible to scholars, researchers, and the general public worldwide. Each manuscript has been carefully digitised to provide high-quality images and detailed metadata online. By offering open access to these resources, we hope to foster greater appreciation and understanding of the heritage and historical narratives these manuscripts convey . 

Explore and Engage 

Preparing these manuscripts for digitisation has provided an opportunity to revisit and enhance our understanding of their provenance in a way that goes beyond what is already widely known. This is particularly apposite for three manuscripts of the selected ten—Ethiopic MS 4, 18, and 27—which were taken in 1868 in a violent confrontation between Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia (1855-1868) and Britain’s Bombay Army. This event reverberates loudly today in the British public square and is frequently referenced in debates about how best to handle objects looted in the aftermath of conflict, with opinions ranging across a variety of legal and ethical points of view. Much still remains, however, to be discovered about the lives of these objects. For more information about this event and its impact on the history of these manuscripts, please follow the link here. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to cultural heritage and historical scholarship, we aim to support collaboration and dialogue. We welcome insightful contributions and discoveries from both experts and enthusiasts to help expand our understanding of these remarkable manuscripts. In line with this commitment, we are continually improving our knowledge of the provenance of our collections and offer a transparent account of their history.

We invite you to explore the Ethiopic Manuscripts Collection on the Manchester Digital Collections platform. Delve into the intricate world of Ethiopic manuscript culture, discover their stories, and engage with a part of history that continues to speak today. Whether you are a seasoned scholar or simply curious about Ethiopia’s and Eritrea’s rich cultural legacies, this collection offers a unique and enriching experience. 

Visit the Manchester Digital Collections webpage today to begin your journey through the Ethiopic Manuscripts Collection at the John Rylands Library.