Entitled to the memory of Paolo Marrassini (Florence, 1942-2013), Professor for Ethiopian and Semitic Studies in Pisa, Florence, Naples and Addis Ababa, this volume reflects the wide spectrum of interests of its dedicatee. While the majority of the contributions included deal with Semitic, Arabic and Jewish Studies, Assyriology and most of all classical Ethiopian Studies, also Egyptology, Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, Medieval and African Studies, Linguistics and Classical Archaeology are included, not without a look into contemporary issues of migration and globalization. Contributed by colleagues, friends and pupils of Marrassini from several European countries, the USA and Ethiopia, the volume consists of 36 papers in English, French and Italian, ranging from research notes to comprehensive essays and extensive text editions with translation and commentary. It also includes short notices on the dedicatee by the editors and Riccardo Contini, along with his complete bibliography.