The mystery of the Ethiopian Orthodox (?) Tablets
Ethiopian Orthodox iconography isn't exactly my forté, but I'd like to publically reveal my pair of ancient two-sided tablets in the hope that someone more erudite may be able to enlighten me.
Each measures about 10 x 11 cm, and about 5 mm thick at the thickest point. The one above may be an image of a Crusader or some other kind of Christian missionary. The horse's head may in fact be that of a lion, in which case this person might be intended to represent the legendary Daniel. The form of the cross recalls Russian Orthodoxy, but in a rather eccentric form. What I know about cross iconography, however, could be written on the back of a webpage...
Tablet 1B, the obverse of tablet 1A, depicts what are apparently angels, ironically bearing swords. This encourages me to assert the validity of my Crusader hypothesis.
The script reminds me of Egyptian hieroglyphics or perhaps Coptic script, and I would much appreciate any scholar of decipherment offering their opinion at goresymes@gmail.com
I can only imagine these figures as representing the four evangelists of the New Testament. Their symbolic hand gestures may mean something but it is too cryptic for my knowledge. Their halos are of the early variety with radiating beams of light, much the same as the Buddha is still often represented today in Asia.
This is clearly St George slaying the Dragon. In his left hand he appears to be holding a small cross aloft. Or a dagger?
Neither of the two tablets is flat nor perfectly formed, but shows the irregularity of hand-carving. Each is slightly convex - on both sides and slightly thicker towards the middle. The material from which they are made? Quite heavy. Could be a stone like flint... but also sounds like metal, which is my best guess. What could be the reason for the red colour persisting in the depressions? Natural oxides from iron? Ink? Were these actually printing blocks for fabrics? And why are there three holes in each piece, as if they were originally bound like a book? Miraculously, a fragment of twisted leather (or gut?), slightly glossy, still lingers tantalisingly in one of the holes. Mystery. Write to me, quick... put me out of my misery.
luvian hieroglyphs cuneiform palmyrene alphabet sassanian texts pr
texts greek alphabet cypriot scripoenician cript cretan writing mycenaean linear b steatite archaeology
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Pls excuse lack of comments - i had the Blogger 'comments' option disabled... my gaffe. All the while i thought they ere being published and now i can't find them... oops.
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