Ethiopian magical recipe book

This manuscript is an annotated book of Ethiopian magic. Written in Ge’ez, or classic Ethiopic, it contains a collection of protective amulets, talismans and charms. The manuscript would have belonged to an exorcist or däbtära ( ), a highly educated religious figure. On these pages are talismans and geometric images, used for making amulet scrolls. Accompanying them are prayers for undoing spells. Talismanic drawing focuses on the image of the eye, as a defence against the evil eye and the dark arts.Shown here: ff. 57v–58r