19th century AD or earlier. A protective prayer scroll on three lengths of thin leather or vellum sewn together, with many lines of manuscript text in two columns in black and red pigment with coloured figural illuminations at head depicting a female figure (Lilith, the first woman) and a demon; near centre depicting a crowned figure (Virgin Mary) with two attendants and a beheaded demon below (and the Virgin will crush the head of the snake) and at end depicting a cross design within a frame. See Jäger O.A. & Deininger-Englhardt, L., ‘Some notes on illuminations of manuscripts in Ethiopia’ in Rassegna di Studi Etiopici, Vol. 17 (1961), pp.45-60.59 grams, 1.7m (67"). From the private collection of Stephen Keynes (1927-2017"). Healing scrolls are written in Ge’ez, a 2,000-year-old indigenous Semitic language. Once the lingua franca of the Aksumite empire, Ge’ez is now the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Ethiopian magical literature, which includes healing scrolls, relies upon the invocation of the secret names of god (asmat"). By mastering these many names, a däbtära or other priest can oblige God to aid his client. The scrolls’ prayers are composed of passages from Christian books that invoke these or other protective and curative words. Frequently used prayers protect against the evil eye (aynät), or capture demons [No Reserve]