Work dossier · summary and historical context
The 'Image of Madḫānina ʾƎgziʾ' (Image of Our Savior) is an anonymous Geʿez poem belonging to the liturgical repertoire of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Its genre is poetic, likely a malkəʾ-hymn, structured with salutations (ሰላም) and a sealing formula (ሐተምኩ). The text focuses on the icon of Christ, referencing the Passion narrative, the prophet Habakkuk, and obscure figures such as ʾOryāres, Bənāse, and ʾAryob. Transmitted in manuscript collections, the work's dating is uncertain, but its form and content suggest a medieval or early modern origin. The source edition (betmas) provides a critical text without translation or detailed commentary, limiting contextual analysis.
This poem exemplifies the Ethiopian malkəʾ-hymn genre, blending biblical narrative with local liturgical forms. Its focus on the icon of Christ highlights the importance of holy images in Ethiopian Orthodox piety. The work also preserves obscure angelic or astral names, offering a window into lesser-known aspects of Ethiopic religious literature. As an anonymous composition, it represents the collective devotional tradition rather than individual authorship.
The poem originates from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo tradition, composed in Geʿez, the classical liturgical language of Ethiopia. Its exact date and place of composition are unknown; the genre of malkəʾ-hymns flourished from the medieval period onward, with many such poems composed between the 14th and 18th centuries. The work likely circulated in monastic scriptoria and was copied into liturgical collections for use in church services. The title's focus on the image of Christ reflects the Ethiopian tradition of icon veneration, which developed under influences from Byzantine and Syriac Christianity. The poem's references to the Passion and to Habakkuk (alluding to the deuterocanonical story in Daniel 14) indicate a deep engagement with biblical and apocryphal sources. The obscure names ʾOryāres, Bənāse, and ʾAryob may derive from angelological or astrological traditions, but their identity remains uncertain due to limited manuscript evidence.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
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