Armenian Amulet Scrolls in the Collections of Paris

Abstract

This article discusses to some Armenian amulet scrolls, kept in various cultural centres and private collections in Paris. It is based on the research, provided in 2016, when the author was a recipient of the “Sirarpie Ter-Nersissian Association” scholarship. Presenting the subject, the author discusses the etymology of the word “hmail” (amulet scroll) with its variations. He names the most important cultural centres, where the amulet scrolls are kept. He classifies into 5 groups the miniatures of the amulets (XV – XIX centuries), as well as gives the information about general conditions of the amulets. The article was a paper previously presented in Paris in 2019 (“Armenian Amulets in scroll at the collections of Paris”: “A la mémoire de Sirarpie Der Nersessian (1896-1989)”, Colloque international, December 13-14).