Table 1 Result of on-site pXRF analyses of the murals of Abuna Yemata Guh church
SN | Colour | Origin | Elements detected | Pigments implied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yellow | Part of cloak of Aba Esi, right of St Mary’s figure | Fe, As, Ca, S, Si, Mg, Cl, Sr | Orpiment, calcite and\or gypsum |
2 | Yellow | Getse kelb, from head part, under the figure of AYG | Fe, Si, Ca, S | Yellow ochre |
3 | Yellow | Part of cloak of Aba Esi, right of St Mary’s figure (see also 1) | As, S, Ca, Fe, K | Orpiment and calcite and\or gypsum |
4 | Yellow | Geometric figure, interlace below the figure to the left of Abuna Yemata | Fe, Mn, Ca | Yellow ochre |
5 | Yellow | Part of a geometric interlacing figure below St Mary’s figure, remnant from a damaged part | Ca, Fe, Si, S | Yellow ochre |
6 | Yellow | Part of the geometric figure (damaged) below a man figure to the left of Mary with Christ | Fe, Ti, Mn | Yellow ochre |
7 | Red | Part of throne, right side close to the lower border, Mary with Child figure (see also 13) | Pb, Hg, S, Fe | Red ochre, cinnabar, and lead white |
8 | Red | Center of the geometric figure, interlace described in 4 | Fe, Ca, S, Zn., Mn, Ni, Co, K, Ti | Calcite based, some gypsum |
9 | Red | Part of throne, close to the lower border, right side, Mary with Child figure | Fe, Ca, S, K, Mn, Cu, Ni | Yellow ochre based |
10 | Red | Lower border, Mary with Child figure | Hg, Fe, As, Pb | Red ochre, cinnabar and lead white |
11 | Red | Part of throne, close to the lower border, left side, Mary with Child figure | Hg, Fe, As, Pb | Red ochre, cinnabar and lead white |
12 | Red | Lower border, Mary with Child figure | Pb, Hg, Cu, Fe, Ni, As | Red ochre, cinnabar and lead white |
13 | Red | Part of throne, right side close to the lower border, Mary with Child figure | Pb, Hg, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ti, S, Co, Mn, As, | Red ochre, cinnabar and lead white |
14 | Red | Part of throne, right side close to the lower border, Mary with Child figure (see also 13) | Pb, Hg, S, Fe | Red ochre, cinnabar, and lead white |
15 | White | Leftover in a damaged part below 22 | Fe, Ca, S, Mn, Ni, Cu | Calcite and\or gypsum |
16 | White | Left over in a damaged part below 22 close to a yellowish damaged part | Fe, Ca, S, Mn, Cu, Ti | Calcite based, some gypsum |
17 | White | Part of a geometric decorative figure below St Mary’s figure, remnant from a damaged part | Fe, Si, Ca, Cl, S | Calcite and\or gypsum |
18 | White | Part of the interlacing in the geometric figure described in 4 and 8 | Fe, Mn, Ca, S, Zn, Ni, Cu. Ti | Red ochre |
19 | Olive Green | Part of (left side) cloak of Aba Esi, located to the right of St Mary’s figure | S, Cl, K, Ca, Si, Ti, Fe | Green earth, calcite, gypsum |
20 | Green | Part of the geometric figure (damaged) below a man figure to the left of Mary with Christ | Fe, Ca, S | Green earth, calcite, gypsum |
21 | Green | Part of the interlacing in the geometric figure described in 4,8 and 18 | Fe | Green earth |
22 | Red, earth support | Exposed part of the geometric figure (damaged) below a man figure to the left of Mary with Christ figure | Fe, Ti, Mn | Red ochre rich |
23 | Red, earth support | Exposed part of the geometric figure (damaged) below a man figure to the left of Mary with Christ figure | As, Pb, Hg, Ca, Fe, S, Co, Mn, K | Red ochre rich |
24 | Red, earth support | Exposed support made up of red earth, lower left cloth of St Mary, close to 11 | Fe | Red earth |