Catalogue of Ethiopic Manuscripts

This new catalogue describes the Ethiopian collection of the Royal Library, Copenhagen, and represents a significant advance in the number of Ethiopic manuscripts catalogued worldwide. A diverse collection spanning the Ethiopian Christian manuscript culture and literature, it includes 24 parchment codices, 4 parchment scrolls and 2 paper codices. The biggest group comprises parchment manuscripts that were produced and used in the indigenous context of Christian Ethiopia. A few items (paper manuscripts and the print) are linked to European scholars such as H. Ludolf and L. Godlschmidt, and reflect their research interests. The main language of this material is Ethiopic (Ge'ez), followed by Amharic and a few non-Ethiopian languages. Designed especially as an essential source of reference for scholars working in all aspects of manuscript studies, the catalogue includes over 77 full-page illustrations (many in color) that help to identify the texts and give a glimpse of the scribal styles and practices as well as decorative elements in the manuscripts.

Denis Nosnitsin is a specialist in the literature and languages of Ethiopia and the codicology of Ethiopic (Ge'ez) manuscripts. A graduate of the Oriental faculty of St. Petersburg State University, since 1999 he has been working at Hamburg University’s Asia-Africa Institute where he is currently Deputy Professor of Ethiopian Studies. Between 2009 and 2015 he headed the European Research Council-supported project ‘Ethio-SPaRe: Cultural Heritage of Christian Ethiopia. Salvation, Preservation, Research’.