tabot
- Museum number
- Af1868,1001.21
- Description
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Tabot; carved from wood with depiction of cross and Ge'ez inscriptions.
- Production date
- 1868 (before)
- Dimensions
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Height: 14.66 inches
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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The Tabot is the foundation of the Ethiopian Orthodox church and serves to sanctify and consecrate a church building. The Tabot is believed by Ethiopian Christians to be the dwelling place of God on earth, the mercy seat described in the Bible, and the representation of the Ark of the Covenant. Every church has at least one Tabot which, when consecrated, is kept in the Qeddest Qeddusan, Holy of Holies, which only the clergy may enter. A church may be known by the name of its Tabot which is often dedicated to Mary, Medhane Alam, The Saviour of the World, or to saints and angels.
The Tabots remain in the Qeddest Qeddusan and are only brought out of the churches at festival times or in times of calamity, in order to pray for divine help. When they leave the Queddest Qeddusan they are carried on the heads of priests, veiled from public view by richly decorated cloths. Ornate silk umbrellas are held over the Tabots as a sign of respect. They are processed around the churches accompanied by Priests and Dabtara whose singing and dancing is reminiscent of the description of King David's dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, (Old Testament, 2 Samuel V6). The Tabots are greatly venerated and worshippers ululate, bow and prostrate themselves in their presence.
Tabots have been taken by kings into battle ahead of the armies to ensure their safety and victory. Emperor Menelik II famously took the Tabot of the Church of Saint Georges, Addis Ababa with him at the battle of Adwa, where he defeated a large Italian colonial force. The Tabot of Medhane Alam accompanied Emperor Haile Selassie I during his exile in Britain so that he could continue to celebrate the liturgy.
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Temporary Register1861-1921 entry:
'68.10.1. Abyssinian objects. Purch? by R. Holmes'.
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See Collection File: Af1868,1001.1-32.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good.
- Associated events
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Associated Event: Abyssinia Expedition 1867-1868
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Associated Event: Battle of Maqdala 13 April 1868
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1868,1001.21
