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Princeton Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Egyptian Miracles of Mary (PEMM) project

Bishop Composes Mary's Book

Image displayed with permission of Gunda Gunde Monastery

Bishop Composes Mary's Book

  • This painting (also called an illumination) appears in a manuscript likely made in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, and dated to 1700-1799. You can view this painting in the manuscript Gunda Gunde Monastery, Gunda Gunde Manuscripts Collection, Manuscript No. 43, f. 21r, s. 43, or learn more about this manuscript at its PEMM Manuscript page. You can also read the related story at its PEMM Story page.
  • Many Geʿez manuscript paintings are in "Synoptic Narrative Art” style; that is, a single painting depicts multiple moments in the story, providing a series of vignettes representing different plot points. PEMM calls these "episodes". This painting of PEMM Story ID 13 has 3 episodes. The painting's episode descriptions, locations, and keywords are:
  • 1. Hildephonsus of Toledo composes the book of the Taʾammǝra Māryā (bottom-left). The object(s) are manuscript; book; folio; pen; reed; ink well; ink stand; ink horn; knife; pen knife. The living being(s) are Ildefonsus of Toledo; bishop; scribe; author.
  • 1. The episode descriptions are not yet been translated into Amharic.
  • 2. St Mary presenting to Hildephonsus of Toledo a throne and garment (top-left). The object(s) are throne; book; jewelry. The living being(s) are Mary; Ildefonsus of Toledo; bishop; scribe; author.
  • 2. The episode descriptions are not yet been translated into Amharic.
  • 3. Hildephonsus of Toledo's successor falling and being smitten by an angel having touched Mary's gifts to Hildephonsus without permission (right). The object(s) are sword. The living being(s) are angel; bishop.
  • 3. The episode descriptions are not yet been translated into Amharic.
  • The number of PEMM manuscripts that have paintings of this story is 51. The total number of paintings of this story in PEMM manuscripts is 93.
  • PEMM's ID number for this painting is 2025.
  • To reproduce this image online or in print, please contact the Gunda Gunde Monastery. PEMM does not own the rights.
  • If you think any of the information on this page is incorrect (e.g., the location, date, description, captions), please use our PEMM Feedback Form to let us know. We depend on users like you to improve the site.
pricenton ethiopian eritrean & egyptian miracles of marry project

The Princeton Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Egyptian Miracles of Mary (PEMM) project is a comprehensive resource for the 1,000+ miracle stories written about and the 2,500+ images painted of the Virgin Mary in these African countries, and preserved in Geʿez between 1300 and the present.

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