The Archangel Michael in Africa: History, Cult and Persona - Paperback

by Ingvild Saelid Gilhus (Editor), Alexandros Tsakos (Editor), Marta Camilla Wright (Editor)

This book takes an interdisciplinary approach in order to understand angels, focusing on Africa and the cult and persona of the Archangel Michael. Traditional methods in the study of religion including philology, papyrology, art and iconography, anthropology, history, and psychology are combined with methodologies deriving from memory studies, graphic design, art education, and semiotics.

Chapters explore both historical and contemporary case studies from Coptic Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and South Africa, providing a comparative perspective on the Archangel Michael, alongside 25 images.

Innovative in both its methodologies and geographical focus, this book is an important contribution to the study of religion and art, Christianity in Africa, and Coptic studies.

Author Biography

Ingvild Sælid Gilhus is Professor in the Study of Religion at the University of Bergen, Norway.

Alexandros Tsakos is Scientific Director of the Collection of Manuscripts and Rare Books of the Special Collections of the University Library of Bergen, Norway.

Marta Camilla Wright is a PhD student in the Study of Religion at the University of Bergen, Norway.