Abba Garima III
Date:
Fifth or sixth century
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Ethiopia
Medium:
Parchment
Description:
Abba Garima III is the oldest of three Gospel books associated with, and still housed at, the monastery of Enda Abba Garima (Ethiopia). All three are written in Ge'ez, the language of the Ethiopian Church. Although Garima III was previously dated between the eighth and thirteenth centuries, radiocarbon analysis of its pages has suggested significantly earlier dates: the fifth or sixth century. If this redating is correct, Garima III is not only the oldest surviving Ethiopian manuscript but also the oldest Gospel book to preserve all four evangelist portraits and canon tables. Among Ethiopian monks, the canon tables were not only used as navigational tools displaying concordances between the different Gospels, but also valued for their symbolic importance as visual representations of Gospel harmony. In addition to the canon tables, evangelist portraits, and portrait of Eusebius (creator of the canon tables), Garima III has an image of the Jerusalem Temple as envisioned by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 40:1–43:17).
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
3
Image Credits:
Michael Gervers
