Rare Bites: Ethiopian Magic Scrolls

Rare Bites is a series of informal and entertaining 30 minute lunchtime talks showcasing items from Rare Books & Special Collections at the University of Sydney Library. Associate Professor Jay Johnston is an interdisciplinary scholar in the School of Literature, Art and Media, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She discusses two Ethiopic Coptic Christian magic scrolls and the remarkable images they contain, exploring who may have created them and their context of use. Could these objects have played a role in personal health, relationships and/or protection?