BBC - A History of the World - Object : Ethiopian Triptych

17th Century Abyssinian Triptych. Copyright: The Trustees of the Powell-Cotton Museum.

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The object unites three continents in the Christian faith. Middle Eastern religion, European art form and African origin"I have no intention of being an indifferent looker-on whilst distant European Powers have the idea of dividing up Africa, for Ethiopia has existed for fourteen centuries as an Island of Christians in the middle of a sea of pagans." Menelik II Emperor of Abyssinia 4th October 1891

St George is not only the patron saint of England, but Georgia, and Ethiopia too - where the origins of Christianity can be traced back as far as the 4th century AD when two Christians, Frumentius and Aedesius were shipwrecked en route to India.

The triptych of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was 'rescued' by Percy Powell-Cotton on one of his two trips to Abyssinia.

Back in South East England (Kent) he built his very own museum at his home in Quex Park to safe keep his collection which includes African skins, skeletons, mounted specimens and ethnographic material.

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