Endubis or Endybis (Greek: Ενδυβις) was a late-3rd-century sovereign of the Kingdom of Aksum in East Africa (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea). He was among the earliest rulers in the Africa to mint his own coins; according to Stuart C. Munro-Hay, "No other sub-Saharan African state issued its own independent coinage in ancient times -- indeed no other African state at all, since those in North Africa (Libya and Mauritania) fell under Roman dominion."[2] The Aksumite currency of his reign was issued in gold, silver, and bronze or copper denominations and bore inscriptions in Koine Greek.
Coins of king Endybis. The left one reads in Greek "ΑΞΩΜΙΤΩ ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥϹ", "King of Axum". The right one reads in Greek: ΕΝΔΥΒΙϹ ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥϹ, "King Endybis". British Museum.
The coins of Endubis are dated to c. 295 to c. 310 and are "undoubtedly [...] the oldest Aksumite coins".[3] The weight of the gold coins issued in his reign are equivalent to "the weight of the half-aureus or quinarius of the last half of the 3rd century AD."[4] More precise clues can be seen in the currency reforms during the reign of Diocletian, who reorganised the issuing of gold coins in 286 and silver coins in 294, the latter after having been suspended for several decades.[3] As such, it is likely that the coins of Endubis, which were minted in gold, silver and copper, do not date to before c. 295.[3]
The coins of Endubis set the design that his successors followed for the most part. Both obverse and reverse are characterized by a profile bust of the rule facing to the right, with a stalk of two-row barley on either side between the bust and the inscription. Endubis and his pagan successors include in the legend at the top of the coin a "crescent representing perhaps the Moon-god Sin and the disc representing Shams, the Sun-goddess."[5]
Two mottos in Greek characterize the coins of Endubis:
"AξωMITω BICIΔAXY" – "of the Aksumites, man of Daku",[6] or "bisi Dakhu".[7] This is the first appearance of the title "bisi", which Stuart Munro-Hay believed is related to the Ge'ez word be'esya ("man of").[7]
On some coins Endubis described himself as "ΑΞΩΜΙΤΩ ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥϹ", "king of Axum".
endubis, endybis, greek, Ενδυβις, late, century, sovereign, kingdom, aksum, east, africa, modern, ethiopia, eritrea, among, earliest, rulers, africa, mint, coins, according, stuart, munro, other, saharan, african, state, issued, independent, coinage, ancient, . Endubis or Endybis Greek Endybis was a late 3rd century sovereign of the Kingdom of Aksum in East Africa modern day Ethiopia and Eritrea He was among the earliest rulers in the Africa to mint his own coins according to Stuart C Munro Hay No other sub Saharan African state issued its own independent coinage in ancient times indeed no other African state at all since those in North Africa Libya and Mauritania fell under Roman dominion 2 The Aksumite currency of his reign was issued in gold silver and bronze or copper denominations and bore inscriptions in Koine Greek EndubisAksumite kingCoins of king Endybis The left one reads in Greek A3WMITW BAϹILEYϹ King of Axum The right one reads in Greek ENDYBIϹ BAϹILEYϹ King Endybis British Museum Reignc 270 310 1 PredecessorDTWNSSuccessorAphilas Contents 1 Coinage 2 Gallery 3 References 4 External linksCoinage editMain article Aksumite currency The coins of Endubis are dated to c 295 to c 310 and are undoubtedly the oldest Aksumite coins 3 The weight of the gold coins issued in his reign are equivalent to the weight of the half aureus or quinarius of the last half of the 3rd century AD 4 More precise clues can be seen in the currency reforms during the reign of Diocletian who reorganised the issuing of gold coins in 286 and silver coins in 294 the latter after having been suspended for several decades 3 As such it is likely that the coins of Endubis which were minted in gold silver and copper do not date to before c 295 3 The coins of Endubis set the design that his successors followed for the most part Both obverse and reverse are characterized by a profile bust of the rule facing to the right with a stalk of two row barley on either side between the bust and the inscription Endubis and his pagan successors include in the legend at the top of the coin a crescent representing perhaps the Moon god Sin and the disc representing Shams the Sun goddess 5 Two mottos in Greek characterize the coins of Endubis ENDYBIC BACILEYC King Endybis 6 A3wMITw BICIDAXY of the Aksumites man of Daku 6 or bisi Dakhu 7 This is the first appearance of the title bisi which Stuart Munro Hay believed is related to the Ge ez word be esya man of 7 On some coins Endubis described himself as A3WMITW BAϹILEYϹ king of Axum Gallery edit nbsp Gold coin of Endubis nbsp Gold coin of Endubis References edit Endubis British Museum Retrieved 2023 03 18 Munro Hay Aksumite Coinage in African Zion the Sacred Art of Ethiopia ed Marilyn Heldman New Haven Yale University Press 1993 p 101 a b c Hahn Wolfgang West Vincent 2016 Sylloge of Aksumite Coins in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford Oxford Ashmolean p 10 Munro Hay Stuart C 1984 The Coinage of Aksum Manohar p 26 Munro Hay Coinage p 45 a b Hahn Wolfgang West Vincent 2016 Sylloge of Aksumite Coins in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford Oxford Ashmolean p 34 a b S C Munro Hay 1991 Aksum An African Civilization of Late Antiquity Edinburgh University Press p 75 External links editPage with coin struck under Endubis Regnal titles Preceded byDTWNS King of Axum Succeeded byAphilas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Endubis amp oldid 1199000260, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
