This document analyzes the philological, codicological, and paleographic features of the Gedla Abba Zemika'el Aregawi manuscript through examining its content, physical structure, and writing style. The manuscript contains historical information on 5th century Ethiopian kings and the arrival of nine saints. Codicologically, it has 54 parchment pages in a two column layout and was bound with wood covers. Paleographically, the majuscule script follows the Gwelh style and features angular letters with wide downstrokes. The analysis provides insights into Ethiopian manuscript production and the text's significance for history and theology.

1. PHILOLOGICAL, PALEOGRAPHIC AND
CODICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF GEDLA
ABBA ZEMIKA'EL AREGAWI
MANUSCRIPT
Yonas Yilma GSR/1430/08

2. Contents
 Statement of the problem
 Philological notes of MS
 Codicological notes of MS
 Paleographic notes of MS

3. Identified problems of Ethiopian
manuscript studies
• A large part of the Ethiopian manuscripts evidence has been
irreversibly lost; remainder is considered endanger
• In the advancement of technology parchment manuscripts are
slowly being replaced by printing, but they are still very much
desired and preferred to the printing books.
• Due to political unrest, poor government attention, scarcity of
skillful person and difficult conditions in the country,
attempting at studying on manuscripts,
• the study on manuscript have not done in a consistent way
and have not contributed much for the country development
and our knowledge of Ethiopian manuscript culture.

4. Conti..
• It has not studied by local scholar in sufficient manner,
except a few foreigners.
• Thus, the practice of making manuscript books still exist
at present, a Codicological, Paleographic and
Philological analysis, and ethnographic observation must
be taken into consideration as a study area. Because the
practices have not remained the same in the previous
way all across the centuries.
• Therefore, I was motivated to study Codicological,
Paleographic and Philological aspects of on Gedle Abba
Zemika'el Aregawi codex. I think this small study work
will serve as stepping stone for further research on the
area

5. Objective of the study
• To show the Philological, Codicological, and
Paleographic situation of Gadle Abba Zemika'el Aregawi.
Generally speaking, to ascertain the importance of Gadle
to the study of Ethiopian manuscripts culture.

6. Specific Objectives
• To present historical content of Gdla Abba Zemikael
Aregawi
• To describe the structure and the production technique of
Gdla Abba Zemika'el Aregawi
• To show datation of Gdla Abba Zemika'el Aregawi
• To examine writing typologies of of Gdla Abba Zemika'el
Aregawi

7. Methods of the study
In order to achieve this research objectives, I obliged to
classify my methodologies in the following ways:
• Analysis some related documents
• Interviewing orally those who are expected to possess
the knowledge of Geez literature
• Taking photographed of some selected the inner and the
outer part of the codex

8. Description of the Ms of Gadla Abba Zemika'el
Aregawi
• Name of the Ms.: Abba Zemika'el Aregawi
• Owner of the Ms: NALA (call No. 005.87)
• Location. Addis Ababa, Lideta Sub City
• Number of folios: 54 (including 3 unwritten leaves)
• Number of columns: two columns to each recto and verso
• Dimension of the codex: 19.5 cm X 14.5 cm
• Width of the column: 12.5 cm only the text and 17.5 cm
from the bottom to the end
• Production: parchment made from the skin of the Goat
• Cover plate: made from wood ‘Wanza’

9. Contents of Gadla Abba Zemika'el Aregawi
• The Gedle divided in to monthly readings: it begins with
the month of his disappear. The beginning of each month
start with praying and blessing but the approach is
diverse.
• The conclusion of each month ends with similar way

10. continued
• The introduction and the conclusion parts of each month
of the Gedle frequently mention the name of Habete
Mekaele (ሀብተ ሚካኤል). In contrary, at the last leaves of
the Ms. of colophon mention the name of hagiographer
of this Ms. was Welede Kidane by the order of Wolede
Selassia this indicate the name of the hagiographer of
this Ms. is in paradox.

11. The script writer /palimpsest
Observed the name of Habtemikaeal is added in the
Ms text on which the original writing has been
erased and replaced with the new writing.

12. Reasoning of Writing
• In Ethiopian context the main purpose of composing Gedle
is to the veneration of some of the most famous saints and
martyrs certainly goes back to the early period of
Christianity
“During the Ethiopian king Kaleb son of Gbere Meskele reign. He led by the anaphora
composition Yared that is lighten Ethiopia. His full of skill and competence to compose,
he is the leader of the eight saints his name called Abba Zemikael and later change into
Abuna Aregawi. He ignored this world convenience and respect, his strong endurance,
we start write down his hagiography that constitute of his miracles.”

13. Significance of the text
The Ms. has generally three basic significances for:
• History
• Theology
• Manuscript studies

14. Historical Contents of Gedla Abba Zemika'el Aregawi
• The Gadle of Abba Zemikael Aregawi constitute
historical incidents of four Akumite kings named Ella
Alamida, Tazena, Kaleb and Gebre Meskele.

15. His Parents and spiritual life of Abba Zemika'el
Aregawi
• The father of Abba Zemika'el Aregawi named Yesehake
was from ‘Rom’ royal families; they were a Nobel
Christian in Rom. They cultivated him in religious
manner and he studied the holy books in early age. His
parents wanted him to marry into the royal family, but he
rejected it because of his religious veneration and took
refuge in Greek with Abba Pachomious.

16. The coming of nine saints in Ethiopia
• Abba Zemika'el Aregawi escaped secretly from Abba
Pachomious monastery with the two disciples at night
• He was in Ethiopia, he looked the country’s religious
endurance and beliefs. He returned to his father country Rom.
He told for his religious brothers about the incredibility of
Ethiopia especially the people endurance for their religion.
• They were also attracted by Ethiopia and decided to go to
Ethiopia. They started their voyage to carry their own things
like tablets, books, holy treasures and also went with clergy
men by the pioneer of Abba Zemika'el Aregawi. When they
arrived in Axum the king and the metropolitans were
welcomed them.
• They arrived in Ethiopia in the 5th year of King Ella Amida who
was the six king in Axumite dynasty and the son of king
Allbadi.

17. The name of Abba Zemika'el changed
• Abba Zemika'el nominated by the saints to lead the
group. He got respect and reputation from the group
members. Due to that they converted the name into
Aregawi due to his strong veneration and the god skill of
his fellow. Aregawi means senior. He led the group in a
good manner and give wise direction for each group
member.

18. The foundation of Däbrä Damo monastery
• The Gadla of Abba Zemikael Aregawi is clearly elaborate
Zemikael Aregawi often depicted climbing the mountain
of Däbrä Damo on the help of snake’s tail. Up to the
present day the only means of access to the monastery
is to climb the sheer wall of the mountain with the help of
a rope, symbolizing the tail of the snake.

19. The war on south Arabia
• the Gadle the main reason for south Arabia expedition of
king Kaleb was freed Nagran Christian peoples from
religious persecution,
• Abba Zemika'el Aregawi blessed king Kaleb to get charisma
over your enemy and defeated effortlessly and come back
with won.
• the Gadle the main reason for south Arabia expedition of
king Kaleb was freed Nagran Christian peoples from
religious persecution,
• whereas Sergew H/Sealasia (1981) in his book “ancient and
medieval Ethiopian history” doesn’t attested this episode of
history. In contrary, Sergew stated about the reason of the
military expedition was territory expansion.

20. Codicological Analysis
• This Ms is not traditionally distinguished from others Ms
according to overall format.
• Writing materials: parchment and ink
• Parchment
• the technology of parchment making is very similar in
most places in Ethiopia.
• The parchment of each leaf are white, thin and smooth.
So that the parchment of this Ms probably made of
superior quality of Goat skin. It is also fairly processed.

22. Ink
• The Ms used two colors types of ink for writing. The
black for the main text and the red for beginning of
passages, headings, name of saints, name of the person
who compose this Ms and punctuation signs.

23. Lay-out of the pages
• This Ms is assigned in mid-size category. With a height
19.5 cm and width 14.5 cm
• This Ms is has assigned in two column types of layout.
Thus, this Ms of Abba Zemikael Aregawi is similar column
layout of the ancient Ethiopian Ms of four gospels of Abba
Garima.
• The shape of the written area of this Ms is rectangular with
the width (12.5 cm) being less than the height (17.5) of the
codex (5.0 cm)

24. Showing the column’s of the codex

25. Assembling the quires
• The leaves is assembled according to Gregory Rule, the
parchments are folded up hair-side against hair-side
• A quire is usually composed of five bifolia, so that the Ms
have ten leaves (a quinion). But quires with an irregular
number of leaves have seen in the first and the last six
quire. The first quire is composed of single coupled folia
and the last the six quire is composed of six bifolia (12
leaves).
• The scribe add extra leaves two blank leaves at the
beginning and one blank leaf at the end of the Ms and
the written folios are 51. In general, the Ms consists of
27 leaves, 54 folios and 108 pages gathered in 6 quires.

26. Showing traces of binding

27. Writing system
• The script of the MS is follow a majuscule writing system
(large letter). It is easily to identify each script using
necked eye. In the Ms, words are consistently separated
by word dividers punctuation (two dots) and also used
decorated four dots at the end of each sentence.

28. Codex Binding
• The binding method of this Ms is follows the prevalent
Ethiopian binding technique. The binding of this Ms is on
two boards. The left and right cover boards are made of
wood (cordia Africana/wanza/). The boards have exceeded
by nearly a few 4.00 mm from the parchment of the codex.

29. Conti..
• Another feature which can be observed in the Ms the left
and right end-leaf of quires is exposed to deteriorate by the
board. The wood board debris glue on the last and the first
leaf of the codex. If the Ms is not have protective leaves, it
will lose the first and the last scripts of the Ms.

30. Conti..
• The boards receive four sewing stations, where the threads
made from synthetic threads are fix quires and wood
boards of the Ms together.
•

31. Pricking and Ruling
• Pricks (weg) pattern are clearly visible in the Ms
• The vertical nearly 9mm distance from the edge of each
leaf of Ms.
• Each folia of the Ms have four (4) vertical pricks
• The horizontal pricks (text pricks) pattern of Ms appears as
nearly straight lines of small holes.
• The Ms also use dry-point technique for ruling.

32. Continu..

33. Colophon
• the colophon which written by the copyist at the end of
the text
• The colophon of the Ms indicates, the Ms written down
during the reigns of King Lij Iyasu the son of Menilik
emperor II. This Ms. started with April, 10 and
accomplished it after 17 days. It was written down order
of his christen name Welede Selassia.
• On the other side, others information, such as the place
of coping, reasons for coping, etc. are missing
• So that this Ms. prepared between 1913-1916 at the
reign of Lij Iyasu in the 2oc.

34. Continued

35. Paleographic Analysis
• The main features of Ethiopic paleography have been
examined by Siegbert Uhli (1990), this work still remains
reliable starting point of research. He categorizes Ethiopian
paleography in to seven stages
• This Ms Gedla Abba Zemika'el Aregawi Writing style is very
similar with Gwelh script also called “the script of kings”
• However, this MS written down in the 20c at the reign of Lij
Iyasu (1913-16), but the writer of this Ms he follow writing
style of Gwelh script.

36. Conti..
• Letter forms
• The letters of each script is clearly seen. Even difficult
letters markings ፎ፣ሎ.. can be easily distinguished.
Because each letter clarity and attractively
ornamentation is less important
• Uniformity and distinguishing features
• This Ms. keeps its uniformity of the script. The letter has
a bilinear quality that is all the letters have the same
height, except መ ፣ ወ
ወ መ ል እ ክ ተ

37. Contin..
• The core construction or structure of the letter remains
unchanged in each of the orders with added vowel marker.
The letters is frequently angular. It doesn’t the heads or
tops of the letter are not rounded.

38. Conti..
• The script is not very tall, but it seems tall because of the
wide pen strokes. The dimension of the script letters of Ms
frequently with 5- 6 mm height and 4-5mm width
• The down stroke of the letters is particularly wide and the
horizontal strokes are thin. Thus, the visually dominate
features of the script is the down stroke.
• shows the nib of the scribe pen is purposely cut to give this
kind of letter form.

39. Concluding Remarks
• In general, further study on Gedla Abba Zemika'el
Aregawi should be important to understand the content
of the Gedle and also historical and political history of
Akumite Emperors. I believe, this paper gives insight for
the investigation of Hagiography to obtain firsthand
information for the nation ancient history.

40. Thank youfor your time