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Ezana of Axum

March 29, 2023

Ezana (Ge'ez: ዔዛና ‘Ezana, unvocalized ዐዘነ ‘zn; also spelled Aezana or Aizan) was ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum, an ancient kingdom located in what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia. (320s – c. 360 AD). He himself employed the style (official title) "king of Saba and Salhen, Himyar and Dhu-Raydan".[1] Tradition states that ‘Ezana succeeded his father Ella Amida (Ousanas) as king while still a child but his mother, Sofya then served as regent until he came of age. He conquered the Kingdom of Kush around the year 350 AD.

Ezana
ዔዛና
Gold coin of Ezana with portraits
King of Axum
Reign320s – c. 360 AD
PredecessorOusanas
SuccessorMHDYS
Ezana (Aizan)
King
Honored inCatholic Church
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Feast1 October and 27 October
This article contains Ethiopic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Ethiopic characters.

Reign

Further information: History of Ethiopia and Ethiopian historiography

Ezana was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum to embrace Christianity,[2] after he was converted by his slave-teacher, Frumentius.[3] He was the first monarch after Za Haqala (possibly Zoskales) to be mentioned by contemporary historians, a situation that lead S. C. Munro-Hay to comment that he was "the most famous of the Aksumite kings before Kaleb."[4] In early life he considered himself a son of Mars, but later inscriptions show a growing attachment to Christianity. His childhood tutor, the Syrian Christian Frumentius, became head of the Ethiopian Church. A surviving letter from the Arian Roman emperor Constantius II is addressed to ‘Ezana and his brother Saizana and requests that Frumentius be sent to Alexandria to be examined for doctrinal errors and be replaced by Theophilos the Indian; Munro-Hay assumes that ‘Ezana either refused or ignored this request.[5]

‘Ezana also launched several military campaigns, which he recorded in his inscriptions. A pair of inscriptions on a stela in Ge'ez found at Meroë is thought of as evidence of a campaign in the fourth century, either during ‘Ezana's reign, or by a predecessor like Ousanas. While some authorities interpret these inscriptions as proof that the Aksumites destroyed the kingdom of Meroë, others note that archaeological evidence points to an economic and political decline in Meroë around 300.[6] Moreover, some view the stela as military aid from Axum to Meroë to quell the revolt and rebellion by the Nuba. However, conclusive evidence and proof to which view is correct is not currently available.

On some of the Aksumite coins minted during ‘Ezana's reign appears the motto in Greek ΤΟΥΤΟ ΑΡΕΣΗ ΤΗ ΧΩΡΑ – "May this please the country". Munro-Hay comments that this motto is "a rather attractive peculiarity of Aksumite coinage, giving a feeling of royal concern and responsibility towards the people's wishes and contentment".[7] A number of coins minted bearing his name were found in the late 1990s at archaeological sites in India, indicating trade contacts in that country.[8] A remarkable feature of the coins is a shift from a pagan motif with disc and crescent to a design with a cross. ‘Ezana is also credited for erecting several stelae and obelisks. An inscription in Greek gives the regnal claims of Ezana:[9][10][11]

I, Ezana, King of the Kingdom of Aksum and Himyarites and of Reeidan and of the Ethiopians and of the Sabaites and of Sileel (?) and of Hasa and of the Bougaites and of Taimo...

— Greek inscription of Ezana.[9][10][12]

Ezana is unknown in the King Lists even though the coins bear this name. According to tradition, Emperors Abreha and Asbeha ruled Ethiopia when Christianity was introduced. It may be that these names were later applied to ‘Ezana and his brother or that these were their baptismal names.[13]{{Infobox royalty

Veneration

Along with his brother, Saizan (Sazan), Ezana (Aizan)[14] is regarded as a saint by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Catholic Church, with a feast day of the first of October[15] and on 27 October.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ S. C. Munro-Hay, Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity (Edinburgh: University Press, 1991), p. 81. ISBN 0-7486-0106-6
  2. ^ Stuart Munro-Hay (2002). Ethiopia: The Unknown Land. I.B. Tauris. p. 41.
  3. ^ Murray, Stuart (2009). The Library: an Illustrated History. New York, NY. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-1-60239-706-4.
  4. ^ Munro-Hay, Aksum, p. 77
  5. ^ Munro-Hay, Aksum, pp. 78ff
  6. ^ Munro-Hay, Aksum, pp. 79, 224.
  7. ^ Munro-Hay, Aksum, p. 192.
  8. ^ Details in Paul B. Henze, Layers of Time: A History of Ethiopia (New York: Palgrave, 2000), p. 31 n.18.
  9. ^ a b Tabbernee, William (18 November 2014). Early Christianity in Contexts: An Exploration across Cultures and Continents. Baker Academic. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-4412-4571-7.
  10. ^ a b Anfray, Francis; Caquot, André; Nautin, Pierre (1970). "Une nouvelle inscription grecque d'Ezana, roi d'Axoum". Journal des Savants. 4 (1): 266. doi:10.3406/jds.1970.1235.|quote=Moi, Ézana, roi des Axoumites, des Himyarites, de Reeidan, des Sabéens, de S[il]éel, de Kasô, des Bedja et de Tiamô, Bisi Alêne, fils de Elle-Amida et serviteur du Christ
  11. ^ Valpy, Abraham John; Barker, Edmund Henry (28 February 2013). The Classical Journal. Cambridge University Press. p. 86. ISBN 9781108057820.
  12. ^ Gibbon, Edward (14 February 2016). THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (All 6 Volumes): From the Height of the Roman Empire, the Age of Trajan and the Antonines - to the Fall of Byzantium; Including a Review of the Crusades, and the State of Rome during the Middle Ages. e-artnow. p. Note 137. ISBN 978-80-268-5034-2.
  13. ^ See "'Ezana" article on Dictionary of African Christian Biography (http://www.dacb.org) Web site at . Archived from the original on 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  14. ^ "Ethiopian Saints". Aliens in This World. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  15. ^ Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924
  16. ^ Zeno. "Lexikoneintrag zu »Abreha, SS.«. Vollständiges Heiligen-Lexikon, Band 1. Augsburg ..." www.zeno.org (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-06.

Further reading

  • Yuri M. Kobishchanov. Axum (Joseph W. Michels, editor; Lorraine T. Kapitanoff, translator). University Park, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania, 1979. ISBN 0-271-00531-9
  • Sergew Hable Sellassie. Ancient and Medieval Ethiopian History to 1270 (Addis Ababa: United Printers, 1972).
  • African Zion, the Sacred Art of Ethiopia, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993).

March 29, 2023
ezana, axum, ezana, ዔዛና, ezana, unvocalized, ዐዘነ, also, spelled, aezana, aizan, ruler, kingdom, aksum, ancient, kingdom, located, what, eritrea, ethiopia, 320s, himself, employed, style, official, title, king, saba, salhen, himyar, raydan, tradition, states, t. Ezana Ge ez ዔዛና Ezana unvocalized ዐዘነ zn also spelled Aezana or Aizan was ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum an ancient kingdom located in what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia 320s c 360 AD He himself employed the style official title king of Saba and Salhen Himyar and Dhu Raydan 1 Tradition states that Ezana succeeded his father Ella Amida Ousanas as king while still a child but his mother Sofya then served as regent until he came of age He conquered the Kingdom of Kush around the year 350 AD Ezana ዔዛናGold coin of Ezana with portraitsKing of AxumReign320s c 360 ADPredecessorOusanasSuccessorMHDYSEzana Aizan KingHonored inCatholic ChurchEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo ChurchFeast1 October and 27 OctoberThis article contains Ethiopic text Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols instead of Ethiopic characters Contents 1 Reign 2 Veneration 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingReign EditFurther information History of Ethiopia and Ethiopian historiography Ezana was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum to embrace Christianity 2 after he was converted by his slave teacher Frumentius 3 He was the first monarch after Za Haqala possibly Zoskales to be mentioned by contemporary historians a situation that lead S C Munro Hay to comment that he was the most famous of the Aksumite kings before Kaleb 4 In early life he considered himself a son of Mars but later inscriptions show a growing attachment to Christianity His childhood tutor the Syrian Christian Frumentius became head of the Ethiopian Church A surviving letter from the Arian Roman emperor Constantius II is addressed to Ezana and his brother Saizana and requests that Frumentius be sent to Alexandria to be examined for doctrinal errors and be replaced by Theophilos the Indian Munro Hay assumes that Ezana either refused or ignored this request 5 Ezana also launched several military campaigns which he recorded in his inscriptions A pair of inscriptions on a stela in Ge ez found at Meroe is thought of as evidence of a campaign in the fourth century either during Ezana s reign or by a predecessor like Ousanas While some authorities interpret these inscriptions as proof that the Aksumites destroyed the kingdom of Meroe others note that archaeological evidence points to an economic and political decline in Meroe around 300 6 Moreover some view the stela as military aid from Axum to Meroe to quell the revolt and rebellion by the Nuba However conclusive evidence and proof to which view is correct is not currently available On some of the Aksumite coins minted during Ezana s reign appears the motto in Greek TOYTO ARESH TH XWRA May this please the country Munro Hay comments that this motto is a rather attractive peculiarity of Aksumite coinage giving a feeling of royal concern and responsibility towards the people s wishes and contentment 7 A number of coins minted bearing his name were found in the late 1990s at archaeological sites in India indicating trade contacts in that country 8 A remarkable feature of the coins is a shift from a pagan motif with disc and crescent to a design with a cross Ezana is also credited for erecting several stelae and obelisks An inscription in Greek gives the regnal claims of Ezana 9 10 11 I Ezana King of the Kingdom of Aksum and Himyarites and of Reeidan and of the Ethiopians and of the Sabaites and of Sileel and of Hasa and of the Bougaites and of Taimo Greek inscription of Ezana 9 10 12 Ezana is unknown in the King Lists even though the coins bear this name According to tradition Emperors Abreha and Asbeha ruled Ethiopia when Christianity was introduced It may be that these names were later applied to Ezana and his brother or that these were their baptismal names 13 Infobox royaltyVeneration EditAlong with his brother Saizan Sazan Ezana Aizan 14 is regarded as a saint by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Catholic Church with a feast day of the first of October 15 and on 27 October 16 See also EditEzana StoneReferences Edit S C Munro Hay Aksum An African Civilization of Late Antiquity Edinburgh University Press 1991 p 81 ISBN 0 7486 0106 6 Stuart Munro Hay 2002 Ethiopia The Unknown Land I B Tauris p 41 Murray Stuart 2009 The Library an Illustrated History New York NY pp 30 31 ISBN 978 1 60239 706 4 Munro Hay Aksum p 77 Munro Hay Aksum pp 78ff Munro Hay Aksum pp 79 224 Munro Hay Aksum p 192 Details in Paul B Henze Layers of Time A History of Ethiopia New York Palgrave 2000 p 31 n 18 a b Tabbernee William 18 November 2014 Early Christianity in Contexts An Exploration across Cultures and Continents Baker Academic p 252 ISBN 978 1 4412 4571 7 a b Anfray Francis Caquot Andre Nautin Pierre 1970 Une nouvelle inscription grecque d Ezana roi d Axoum Journal des Savants 4 1 266 doi 10 3406 jds 1970 1235 quote Moi Ezana roi des Axoumites des Himyarites de Reeidan des Sabeens de S il eel de Kaso des Bedja et de Tiamo Bisi Alene fils de Elle Amida et serviteur du Christ Valpy Abraham John Barker Edmund Henry 28 February 2013 The Classical Journal Cambridge University Press p 86 ISBN 9781108057820 Gibbon Edward 14 February 2016 THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE All 6 Volumes From the Height of the Roman Empire the Age of Trajan and the Antonines to the Fall of Byzantium Including a Review of the Crusades and the State of Rome during the Middle Ages e artnow p Note 137 ISBN 978 80 268 5034 2 See Ezana article on Dictionary of African Christian Biography http www dacb org Web site at EZANA Ethiopia Orthodox Archived from the original on 2017 05 05 Retrieved 2017 01 04 Ethiopian Saints Aliens in This World 2011 02 11 Retrieved 2021 11 06 Holweck F G A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints St Louis MO B Herder Book Co 1924 Zeno Lexikoneintrag zu Abreha SS Vollstandiges Heiligen Lexikon Band 1 Augsburg www zeno org in German Retrieved 2021 11 06 Further reading EditYuri M Kobishchanov Axum Joseph W Michels editor Lorraine T Kapitanoff translator University Park Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania 1979 ISBN 0 271 00531 9 Sergew Hable Sellassie Ancient and Medieval Ethiopian History to 1270 Addis Ababa United Printers 1972 African Zion the Sacred Art of Ethiopia New Haven Yale University Press 1993 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ezana of Axum amp oldid 1147139028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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