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Ethiopic Literature in Medieval Ethiopia

Dawit Girma

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Abstract

 

Ge’ez literature has aged about two millennia. Started by Saint Yared before 1500 years ago, Ethiopic literature is the prominent feature of Ethiopian literature. Before the expansion of Christianity, the habit of writing on stones and other hard materials was introduced in Ethiopia. After the introduction and maturity of Christianity the attention was turned to write on soft materials like parchment. St. Yared, The Nine Saints and St. Salama were major literary figures of the Ancient Period. The literature reached at its highest point of development during the Medieval historical period. A number of great figures with their magnificently enlightened works were raised in the period. The era is termed as the “Golden Age” of Ethiopian literature for the quality and quantity of works and writers. Indigenous works, in addition to translation unlike the Ancient period, was peculiar feature of the time. Among many others, hagiography which records saintly lives, acts and the honor shown to saints is major literary  genre.  The  period’s  literature  is  chiefly  rich  in  hagiographies.  Hagiographies  are  well composed and arranged in a range of literariness. Hagiographic narratives have a sense controller story,  when  they  are  seen  with  regard  to  aspects  of  novel,  they  are  inspirational.  Ethiopian hagiographies can exert substantial impact on the country’s literary thinking. Although hagiography is a compilation of facts for believers, it is rich in literary features since it qualifies the fictional elements and techniques.

 

Key Words: Hagiographic literature; Ge’ez literature; Medieval manuscripts; Christian literature