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182 - ** Manuscript book of prophylactic prayers (Hekial, Հեքյալ),…
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Estimate €9,000 - €12,000
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Description
** Manuscript book of prophylactic prayers (Hekial, Հեքյալ), 1661 138 pages on paper (some pages missing), one parchment inner cover, restorations. Continuous text of 13 lines written in bolorgir. 10.5 x 7.5 cm. The small format indicates private use of this book. The manuscript was written in the church of Saint Theotokos in the village of Khoupe (province of Khizan, region of Bitlis / Van) in 1611 by the priest Mikayel on the commission of Petros who paid 4 gold coins for the work. Recent leather binding. The book contains two full-page illuminations: Saint Gregory of Narek (fol. 5r) and Saint Cyprian and Saint Justina (fol. 28v). The artist's style and palette are very close to the art of Zakaria Avantsi, who could have been the inspiration for his illustrations. The beginnings of certain prayers and chapters are decorated with title pages (folios 1r, 5v, 8r, 16r, 29r, 36r, 58r, 62r, 72r). There are also numerous marginal floral illustrations accompanying the prayers and ornithomorphic initials placed at the beginning of the texts, serving as convenient visual cues. The book contains prayers and invocations that generally appear in the Hmayils, the Urbatagirqs (The Book of Fridays), the Cyprianus or the Aghtarq. The difference with the books mentioned here is the existence of a chapter on the tractation of dreams (fol. 72r-121v) at the end of the book. Here we find prayers by Saint Gregory of Narek, Saint Nerses the Nerses the Gracious and invocations to Saint Sargis and his son Martiros and Saint Cyprian. The prayers also called for good luck, wealth and childbirth, and warded off the evil eye, the evil tongue, demons and evil eyes. Some texts and prayers contain cabalistic signs at the end (fols. 15v, 16r, 37r, 58r). A hekial is a type of medieval medicine book similar to a talisman that was supposed to ward off evil spirits, spells and the evil eye. The name of the owner of the book was added to the wish lines, so that he or she would not be harmed by demons. The legend of Cyprien and Justine is linked to magic and witchcraft. Cyprian was a renowned sorcerer, initiated into many pagan cults and rites, and had dealings with the devil. He tried to seduce the young Christian virgin Justine. He finally gave up magic thanks to her and converted to Christianity. He publicly burnt his grimoires. The two were martyred together in Nicomedia during Diocletian's persecution. A more detailed study can be requested from the expert Mme Emma Chookaszian.
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About the sale ANA AND JAMES MELIKIAN COLLECTION - PART II
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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