Ethiopic amulet scrolls, known as ketab, are textual amulets often written on narrow strips of usually goat or sheep parchment in roll format. The scrolls contain prayers, charms, incantations, and invocations of divine names and saints to protect against disease, malevolent spirits, demonic possession, and death in childbirth.

​

The scrolls were made by däbtäras who were practitioners of magic. Däbtäras were highly educated, unordained laymen who usually studied for many years or came from a clergy family. Däbtäras often made amulet scrolls and practiced traditional medicine to supplement their income in addition to teaching at parish schools or working in the courts.

​

The däbtära chooses images that the däbtära considers to be relevant so that they exude the utmost potency. Amulet scrolls traditionally contain depictions derived from manuscripts. Images include abstract talismanic designs, guardian angels, archangels, saints, as well as events from major figures including Saint Susenyos, Alexander the Great, and King Solomon. An eight-pointed star with vertical and horizontal arms and a central human face is a very common motif seen in scrolls. It is known as the Seal of Solomon, which was derived from the prayer “Solomon’s Net,” which was for catching demons. Imagery also often incorporates eyes, which symbolize divine light that can drive away disease and demons.

 

The first image in an amuletic scroll is usually a guardian angel with outspread wings and a drawn sword in their right hand and scabbard in their left. This is a talismanic image used against zar. Zar is a possessing spirit requiring an individual as a medium. The cult of zar is practiced in Ethiopia and East and North Africa and is common among Muslim, Christian, and Jewish practitioners.

 

The images of amuletic scrolls have agency and were imbued with a power to draw in and trap demons and disease. The act of reciprocal viewing was key to the healing process, with the eyes of the scroll looking into the eyes of the demon, who is looking through the eyes of the scroll’s human recipient. Because of this, Ethiopic scrolls are not just containers of ideas but rather are amuletic in function.

​

This treatment was developed with the intention of stabilizing structural components to enable careful handling and exhibition.​