Painted Icon, Diptych
date: label: Accession Date
content: 27 Feb 2003
name: label: Donor Name
content: Fisseha Berhanemeskel
notes: label: Notes
content: Wooden icon with two painted rectangular panels, painted by Daniel Berhanemeskel. The carved wooden case was purchased by the artist in Addis Ababa. It is made with two panels, attached on one side with black twine. The outer side of each panel is unpainted and carved with intricate designs. The inner side is flat and painted in vivid colors. It includes 4 figures: Left panel, figure on left: St. Yared, a 6th century deacon said to be the first composer of hymns for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He received his musical gift from the Holy Trinity, represented by the three birds, each giving him one form of music. Translation of Ge'ez text above the figure: "The Holy Trinity appeared to Saint Yared as three birds and gave him three different song types: Ge'ez, Ezil and Ararai". Left panel, figure on right: St. Yared chants a hymn keeping rhythmic accompaniment with a sistrum (s'enas'el) in his left hand and a prayer stick (maqwamiya) in his right.Translation of Ge'ez text above the figure: "St. Yared while he is signing" Translation of Ge'ez text below him: "Books written by St. Yared, Tsomedgua, Degua, zemmare (hymns sung at the end of the mass) and Mewasit (hymns sung at funerals)" Right Panel, figure on left: St. Gabra Manfas Qeddus, who is thought to be a historic figure who lived in the 13th or 14th century. Living in the wilderness around Mount Zeqwala in the central highlands, his piety was recognized even by wild animals. Clothed in a cloak of bird feathers he prays standing upright like a pillar stretching forth his hands to God. Translation of Ge'ez above the figure: "St. Gabra Manfas Qeddus praying". Right panel, figure on right: St. Takla Haymanat, who was a late 13th century saint who founded the Debra Libanos monastery in the central highlands. As a result of praying for seven years standing on one foot, the other foot withered and fell off. His wings signify his attainment of the monastic ideal, where heaven and earth are united. Translation of Ge'ez text above the figure:"St. Takla Haymanat praying". Icons are commissioned for gifts to churches, sought after by individual priests and monks, and purchased by visitors to Ethiopia who want an example of this living religious painting tradition.
label: Record Last Modified
content: 13 Mar 2019
label: Specimen Count
content: 1
place: label: Place
content: Holland / Addis Ababa, Michigan, United States / Ethiopia, North America / Africa
topic: label: Topic
content: Ethnology
culture: label: Culture
content: Ethiopian
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anthropology
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 2027713
label: USNM Number
content: E431930-0
objectType: label: Object Type
content: Icon
physicalDescription: label: Length
content: 22.4 cm
label: Width
content: 23.3 cm
label: Height
content: 2 cm