Sections


Introduction
Parchment Manufacture
Pens
Inks
Writing
Decoration
Bookbinding
Catalogues

Writing

Most scribes can only spend a few hours each day writing as they usually have other jobs to perform for the church and also have a plot of land and animals to tend. The Sinksar, a large book having about 400 sides, will typically take a scribe about eight to twelve months to complete if he works on average two to three hours a day.

The scribe usually works sitting on the floor, or on a very low stool, with the parchment balanced on one knee.

Immediately prior to writing, the surface of the parchment is rubbed with a very fine grained stone to smooth the surface and remove any fatty deposits that might still remain.

Writing sample page
Writing a sample page
Merigita Fenti Indelew,
Debre Kera Maryam,
April 2001

Writing a Sinksar
Writing a Sinksar
Qés Fenti Mehret,
Gelawdiwos,
December 2000

Writing a sample page
Writing a sample page
Qés Misganew Asaye,
Gimb Giyorgis,
April 2001

 

Demonstrating writing to a student
Demonstrating to a student
Merigita Hulgizé Nurilign,
Zigora Gebriel,
November 2000

Student practising writing on a leaf
Student practising on a leaf
Melkamu Ewenatu,
Gimb Giyorgis,
April 2001

Scribes discussing work
Scribes discussing work
Qés Misganew Asaye and QésYohanis Melese,
Gono Gebriel,
April 2001