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Tabot

January 07, 2023

For the festival in Indonesia, see Tabuik.

Tabot (Ge'ez ታቦት tābōt, sometimes spelled tabout) is a Ge'ez word referring to a replica of the Tablets of Law, onto which the Biblical Ten Commandments were inscribed, used in the practices of Orthodox Tewahedo Christians in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Eritrean Orthodox Church. Tabot can also refer to a replica of the Ark of the Covenant. The word tsellat (Ge'ez: ጽላት tsallāt, modern ṣellāt) refers only to a replica of the Tablets, but is less commonly used.

An Ethiopian Priest carrying the Tabot
A tabot at the Linden Museum in Stuttgart.
This article contains Ethiopic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Ethiopic characters.

According to Edward Ullendorff, the Ge'ez (an Ethiopian Semitic language) word tabot is derived from the Aramaic word tebuta (tebota), like the Hebrew word tebah.[1] "The concept and function of the tabot represent one of the most remarkable areas of agreement with Old Testament forms of worship."[2]

Description

A tabot is usually a 15-centimetre (6-inch) square, and may be made from alabaster, marble or wood from an acacia tree, although longer lengths of upwards of 40 cm (16 inches) are also common.[3] It is always kept in ornate coverings to hide it from public view. In an elaborate procession, which has often reminded literate onlookers of the sixth chapter of 2 Samuel where King David leads the people dancing before the Ark,[4] the tabot is carried around the church courtyard on the patronal feast day, and also on the great Feast of Timket (known as Epiphany or Theophany in English).[5] David Buxton describes one such procession, on the festival of Gebre Menfes Qidus:

To the uninstructed onlooker the climax of the service came at the end, when the tabot or ark was brought out, wrapped in coloured cloths, carried on the head of a priest. As it appeared in the doorway the women raised the ilil, a prolonged and piercing cry of joy. When the tabot goes out of the Bete Mekdes ቤተ መቅደስ, everyone goes down to the floor and says a prayer. At first the tabot remained motionless, accompanied by several processional crosses and their attendant brightly colored canopies, while a group of cantors (dabtara) performed the liturgical dance so beloved of the Abyssinians. The dancing over, a procession formed up, headed by the tabot, and slowly circled the church three times in a counter-clockwise direction. Finally the tabot was carried back into the sanctuary; all was over and the assembly broke up. Now in modern times Tabot comes out each time there is a celebration, for example on Jesus' Baptism all churches from the area come together with their tabot and celebrate.[6]

Looting of tabots

Although Ethiopia was never colonised by the British, many tabots were looted by British soldiers during the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, also known as the Battle of Magdala, and is a cause of anger among Ethiopians.[7]

Repatriation of looted tabots

The return in February 2002 of one looted tabot, discovered in the storage of St John's Episcopal Church in Edinburgh, was a cause of public rejoicing in Addis Ababa.[8][9] Another was returned in 2003 after Ian McLennan recognised the ancient tabot at an auction in London. He bought it and donated it to the government of Ethiopia.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ullendorff, Ethiopia and the Bible (Oxford: University Press for the British Academy, 1968), pp. 82, 122
  2. ^ Ullendorff, Ethiopia and the Bible, p. 82
  3. ^ David Buxton, The Abyssinians (New York: Praeger, 1970), p. 162
  4. ^ For example, Ullendorff, Ethiopia and the Bible, p. 83; Buxton, The Abyssinians, p. 32.
  5. ^ Donald N. Levine, Wax and Gold: Tradition and Innovation in Ethiopian Culture, (Chicago: University Press, 1972), p. 63.
  6. ^ Buxton, The Abyssinians, p. 65
  7. ^ The Guardian 1 June 2019
  8. ^ "Ethiopian joy as church returns Ark of Covenant; Handover may" by Jenifer Johnston, The Sunday Herald, January 27, 2002 (hosted by Find Articles)
  9. ^ "Ethiopia: Returning a Tabot" by Odhiambo Okite, Christianity Today, 22 April 2002
  10. ^ Damian Zane, "Raided Lost Ark returns home", BBC News, 1 July 2003, 11 may 2013

Further reading

  • C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, "Appendix III, The Tabot" in their translation of Francisco Alvarez, The Prester John of the Indies (Cambridge: Hakluyt Society, 1961), pp. 543–8.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tabot.
  • Pilot Guides' Axum and the Ark

January 07, 2023
tabot, festival, indonesia, tabuik, ታቦት, tābōt, sometimes, spelled, tabout, word, referring, replica, tablets, onto, which, biblical, commandments, were, inscribed, used, practices, orthodox, tewahedo, christians, ethiopian, orthodox, church, eritrean, orthodo. For the festival in Indonesia see Tabuik Tabot Ge ez ታቦት tabōt sometimes spelled tabout is a Ge ez word referring to a replica of the Tablets of Law onto which the Biblical Ten Commandments were inscribed used in the practices of Orthodox Tewahedo Christians in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Eritrean Orthodox Church Tabot can also refer to a replica of the Ark of the Covenant The word tsellat Ge ez ጽላት tsallat modern ṣellat refers only to a replica of the Tablets but is less commonly used An Ethiopian Priest carrying the TabotA tabot at the Linden Museum in Stuttgart This article contains Ethiopic text Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols instead of Ethiopic characters According to Edward Ullendorff the Ge ez an Ethiopian Semitic language word tabot is derived from the Aramaic word tebuta tebota like the Hebrew word tebah 1 The concept and function of the tabot represent one of the most remarkable areas of agreement with Old Testament forms of worship 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Looting of tabots 3 Repatriation of looted tabots 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription EditA tabot is usually a 15 centimetre 6 inch square and may be made from alabaster marble or wood from an acacia tree although longer lengths of upwards of 40 cm 16 inches are also common 3 It is always kept in ornate coverings to hide it from public view In an elaborate procession which has often reminded literate onlookers of the sixth chapter of 2 Samuel where King David leads the people dancing before the Ark 4 the tabot is carried around the church courtyard on the patronal feast day and also on the great Feast of Timket known as Epiphany or Theophany in English 5 David Buxton describes one such procession on the festival of Gebre Menfes Qidus To the uninstructed onlooker the climax of the service came at the end when the tabot or ark was brought out wrapped in coloured cloths carried on the head of a priest As it appeared in the doorway the women raised the ilil a prolonged and piercing cry of joy When the tabot goes out of the Bete Mekdes ቤተ መቅደስ everyone goes down to the floor and says a prayer At first the tabot remained motionless accompanied by several processional crosses and their attendant brightly colored canopies while a group of cantors dabtara performed the liturgical dance so beloved of the Abyssinians The dancing over a procession formed up headed by the tabot and slowly circled the church three times in a counter clockwise direction Finally the tabot was carried back into the sanctuary all was over and the assembly broke up Now in modern times Tabot comes out each time there is a celebration for example on Jesus Baptism all churches from the area come together with their tabot and celebrate 6 Looting of tabots EditAlthough Ethiopia was never colonised by the British many tabots were looted by British soldiers during the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia also known as the Battle of Magdala and is a cause of anger among Ethiopians 7 Repatriation of looted tabots EditThe return in February 2002 of one looted tabot discovered in the storage of St John s Episcopal Church in Edinburgh was a cause of public rejoicing in Addis Ababa 8 9 Another was returned in 2003 after Ian McLennan recognised the ancient tabot at an auction in London He bought it and donated it to the government of Ethiopia 10 See also EditThabilitho Altar Stone AntimensionReferences Edit Ullendorff Ethiopia and the Bible Oxford University Press for the British Academy 1968 pp 82 122 Ullendorff Ethiopia and the Bible p 82 David Buxton The Abyssinians New York Praeger 1970 p 162 For example Ullendorff Ethiopia and the Bible p 83 Buxton The Abyssinians p 32 Donald N Levine Wax and Gold Tradition and Innovation in Ethiopian Culture Chicago University Press 1972 p 63 Buxton The Abyssinians p 65 The Guardian 1 June 2019 Ethiopian joy as church returns Ark of Covenant Handover may by Jenifer Johnston The Sunday Herald January 27 2002 hosted by Find Articles Ethiopia Returning a Tabot by Odhiambo Okite Christianity Today 22 April 2002 Damian Zane Raided Lost Ark returns home BBC News 1 July 2003 11 may 2013Further reading EditC F Beckingham and G W B Huntingford Appendix III The Tabot in their translation of Francisco Alvarez The Prester John of the Indies Cambridge Hakluyt Society 1961 pp 543 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tabot Pilot Guides Axum and the Ark Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tabot amp oldid 1119441751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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