Augustine served as the Bishop of Hippo in the Roman province of Africa, or present-day Algeria. The formative influence of northern Africa upon later European culture was both immense and diverse. This intellectual influence is evident for the history of science in figures as diverse as Hero, Ptolemy and Augustine. The formative influence was equally pronounced in the development of Christianity. This manuscript on vellum is an Ethiopian Bible, likely hand-made during training for the priesthood by the young man who would use it. Many vellum leaves were repaired prior to the writing. The figures of Mary and of St. Michael fighting the dragon frame the front and back of the text block.