manuscript ... on a single sheet, mass-produced

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The artifact consists of a single paper sheet containing a series of charms (specifically 20 instances) written continuously (p. 506). These were designed for commercial or widespread distribution; a neat rectangular cut in the sheet demonstrates that approximately five amulets had been removed for use or sale (p. 506, Fig. 3). The charms include both text and drawn images of scorpions (p. 506).

Evidence

"the latest Medieval example is a Hebrew manuscript dating from 12th century Cairo... which is in fact a manuscript containing 20 such charms written continuously on a single sheet, mass-produced and ready to be cut off one by one."

Remarks

The 12th-century Hebrew manuscript from the Cairo Genizah illustrates the mass-production of protective amulets in medieval Cairo (p. 506). The demand for such items was driven by the significant threat of scorpion stings, which were endemic in the region; surveys indicate that a large percentage of the population faced life-threatening stings (p. 506). The document (Cambridge AS 143.26) is a prime example of a ritual product designed for accessibility and high-volume use (p. 506).