The Agaw or Agew (Ge'ez: አገውAgäw, modern Agew) are a pan-ethnic identity native to the northern highlands of Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. They speak the Agaw languages, which belong to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family, and are therefore linguistically closest related to peoples speaking other Cushitic languages.
The Agaw peoples in general were historically noted by travelers and outside observers[4] to have practiced what some described as a “Hebraic religion”, though some practiced Ethiopian Orthodoxy,[5] and many were Beta Israel Jews. A small minority have adopted Islam in the last few centuries. Thousands of Agaw Beta Israel converted to Christianity in the 19th and early 20th century (both voluntarily and forcibly),[6] becoming the Falash Mura, though many are now returning to Judaism.[citation needed]
15th century icon of Lalibela, the 12th century Zagwe King.
The Agaw are perhaps first mentioned in the third-century Monumentum Adulitanum, an Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the sixth century. The inscription refers to a people called "Athagaus" (or Athagaous), perhaps from ʿAd Agaw, meaning "sons[7] of Agaw."[8] The Athagaous first turn up as one of the peoples conquered by the unknown king who inscribed the Monumentum Adulitanum.[9][verification needed] The Agaw are later mentioned in an inscription of the fourth century emperor Ezana of Axum[8] and the sixth-century emperor Kaleb of Axum.[citation needed] Based on this evidence, a number of experts embrace a theory first stated by Edward Ullendorff and Carlo Conti Rossini that they are the original inhabitants of much of the northern Ethiopian Highlands, and were either forced out of their original settlements or assimilated by Semitic-speakingTigrayans, Amharas and Tigrinyas.[10] Cosmas Indicopleustes also noted in his Christian Topography that a major gold trade route passed through the region "Agau". The area referred to seems to be an area east of the Tekezé River and just south of the Semien Mountains, perhaps around Lake Tana.[8]
They currently exist in a number of scattered enclaves, which include the Bilen in and around Keren, Eritrea; the Qemant people (including the now-relocated Beta Israel), who live around Gondar in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, west of the Tekezé River and north of Lake Tana; a number of Agaw live south of Lake Tana, around Dangila in the Agew Awi Zone of the Amhara Region; and another group live around Soqota in the former province of Wollo, now part of the Amhara Region, along with Lasta, Tembien, and Abergele.
The Cushitic speaking Agaw ruled during the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia from about 900 to 1270. The name of the dynasty itself comes from the Ge'ez phrase Ze-Agaw (meaning "of the Agaw"), and refers to the Agaw people.
Language
Bet Gabriel-Rufael church in Lalibela, one of several rock-hewn churches built by the medieval Zagwe dynasty
^"Bilen". Joshua Project. Venture Center. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
^Joireman, Sandra F. (1997). Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa: The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development. Universal-Publishers. p. 1. ISBN1581120001.
^Gamst, Frederick C. (1969). The Qemant - A Pagan-Hebraic Peasantry of Ethiopia. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 29.
^ abcUhlig, Siegbert, ed. Encyclopaedia: A-C. p. 142.
^Munro-Hay, Stuart (1991). Aksum: an African Civilization of Late Antiquity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 187. ISBN0-7486-0106-6.
^Tamrat, Taddesse (1972). Church and State in Ethiopia (1270–1527). Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 26. ISBN0-19-821671-8.
January 20, 2023
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The Agaw or Agew Ge ez አገው Agaw modern Agew are a pan ethnic identity native to the northern highlands of Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea They speak the Agaw languages which belong to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family and are therefore linguistically closest related to peoples speaking other Cushitic languages AgawአገውAgaw women in SekotaRegions with significant populationsHorn of Africa Ethiopia763 000 1 Eritrea110 000 2 LanguagesAgaw Amharic TigrinyaReligionChristianity Ethiopian Orthodox Eritrean Orthodox Catholic Traditional religions Judaism Islam Sunni Related ethnic groupsTigrinyaTigrayansTigreAmharaHarariSilteZayAfarGurageBejaBeta IsraelOromoSomaliSahoother Ethiosemitic and Cushitic peoples 3 Agaw Awi horse racing festival in Gojjam 2020 The Agaw peoples in general were historically noted by travelers and outside observers 4 to have practiced what some described as a Hebraic religion though some practiced Ethiopian Orthodoxy 5 and many were Beta Israel Jews A small minority have adopted Islam in the last few centuries Thousands of Agaw Beta Israel converted to Christianity in the 19th and early 20th century both voluntarily and forcibly 6 becoming the Falash Mura though many are now returning to Judaism citation needed Contents 1 History 2 Language 3 Subgroups 4 Notable people 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory Edit 15th century icon of Lalibela the 12th century Zagwe King The Agaw are perhaps first mentioned in the third century Monumentum Adulitanum an Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the sixth century The inscription refers to a people called Athagaus or Athagaous perhaps from ʿAd Agaw meaning sons 7 of Agaw 8 The Athagaous first turn up as one of the peoples conquered by the unknown king who inscribed the Monumentum Adulitanum 9 verification needed The Agaw are later mentioned in an inscription of the fourth century emperor Ezana of Axum 8 and the sixth century emperor Kaleb of Axum citation needed Based on this evidence a number of experts embrace a theory first stated by Edward Ullendorff and Carlo Conti Rossini that they are the original inhabitants of much of the northern Ethiopian Highlands and were either forced out of their original settlements or assimilated by Semitic speaking Tigrayans Amharas and Tigrinyas 10 Cosmas Indicopleustes also noted in his Christian Topography that a major gold trade route passed through the region Agau The area referred to seems to be an area east of the Tekeze River and just south of the Semien Mountains perhaps around Lake Tana 8 They currently exist in a number of scattered enclaves which include the Bilen in and around Keren Eritrea the Qemant people including the now relocated Beta Israel who live around Gondar in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region west of the Tekeze River and north of Lake Tana a number of Agaw live south of Lake Tana around Dangila in the Agew Awi Zone of the Amhara Region and another group live around Soqota in the former province of Wollo now part of the Amhara Region along with Lasta Tembien and Abergele The Cushitic speaking Agaw ruled during the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia from about 900 to 1270 The name of the dynasty itself comes from the Ge ez phrase Ze Agaw meaning of the Agaw and refers to the Agaw people Language Edit Bet Gabriel Rufael church in Lalibela one of several rock hewn churches built by the medieval Zagwe dynasty The Agaw speak Agaw languages They are a part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro Asiatic family Many also speak other languages such as Amharic Tigrinya and or Tigre Subgroups EditThe Northern Agaw are known as Bilen capital Keren The Western Agaw are known as Qemant The Eastern Agaw are known as Xamir The Southern Agaw are known as AwiNotable people EditGebre Mesqel Lalibela ruler of Ethiopia who is credited with having constructed the rock hewn churches of Lalibela Abebaw Tadesse Awi Ethiopian generalSee also EditZagwe dynasty Bilen peopleReferences Edit Awi Joshua Project Venture Center Retrieved 28 January 2013 Bilen Joshua Project Venture Center Retrieved 28 January 2013 Joireman Sandra F 1997 Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development Universal Publishers p 1 ISBN 1581120001 Gamst Frederick C 1969 The Qemant A Pagan Hebraic Peasantry of Ethiopia New York Holt Rinehart and Winston p 29 Gamst 1969 p 30 Gamst 1969 p 119 121 Uhlig Siegbert ed Encyclopaedia Aethiopica A C Wiesbaden Harrassowitz Verlag 2003 p 117 a b c Uhlig Siegbert ed Encyclopaedia A C p 142 Munro Hay Stuart 1991 Aksum an African Civilization of Late Antiquity Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press p 187 ISBN 0 7486 0106 6 Tamrat Taddesse 1972 Church and State in Ethiopia 1270 1527 Oxford Clarendon Press p 26 ISBN 0 19 821671 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agaw people amp oldid 1127101503, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
