Addi Akaweh 1Early 1st millennium–5th/4th c. BCEAddi Akaweh, Ethiopia
Rdʾm and the people of DʿMT
A better-preserved parallel to RIÉ 9 confirms and refines the reading of Rdʾm’s DʿMT formula.
The epigraphic record
Inscriptions
DʿMT and the Aksumite world, in their own words.
Stone · Bronze · Rock
Sabaic and Geʿez texts, English translations, and the objects that preserve them.
13 inscriptions · earliest first
Addi Akaweh 1
MG 3Early 1st millennium–5th/4th c. BCEMäqabər Gaʿəwa, Ethiopia
Wʿrn’s altar to Almaqah
An in-situ altar calls Wʿrn the victorious king, son of Rdʾm, and records his leadership of the temple at Yeha, but never names DʿMT.
RIÉ 1Early 1st millennium–5th/4th c. BCEAmda Tsyon, Ethiopia
Wʿrn’s temple restoration
A royal temple-restoration slab naming Wʿrn Ḥywt and a female dynastic figure, but not DʿMT itself.
RIÉ 2Early 1st millennium–5th/4th c. BCEAbba Pantaleon, Aksum
The kingship of DʿMT
A two-line royal fragment preserves the formula ‘became king of DʿMT, its east and west’ and the deity ḏt-Bʿdn.
RIÉ 8Early 1st millennium–5th/4th c. BCEAddi Gelemo, Ethiopia
Rbḥ’s incense burner
The damaged incense burner names Rbḥ as victorious king of Ygʿḏ and mukarrib of DʿMT and Sabaʾ, then invokes his household and fields.
RIÉ 11Early 1st millennium–5th/4th c. BCEKaskase, Eritrea
Wʿrn’s Kaskase column
A terse two-line column inscription names Wʿrn Ḥywt and his descent from S¹lmm, without naming DʿMT.
RIÉ 180late 2nd–early 3rd century CEAddi Gelemo, Ethiopia
GDR’s inscribed bronze royal object
This complete seven-word Geʿez text on a curved bronze object gives GDR the short title ‘king of Aksum’ and is commonly treated as the earliest surviving indigenous royal inscription of the Aksumite period.
CIH 308ca. 195–215 CEJabal Riyām, Yemen
GDRT and the Sabaean alliance
A Sabaean royal dedication records an embassy from GDRT, king of Ḥabašat, and the conclusion of a military and diplomatic alliance between Sabaʾ and the Aksumite ruler.
RIÉ 2233rd century CEMatara, Eritrea
The Hawulti stela at Matara
A short memorial inscription states that ʾGZ commissioned the stela for his ancestors and that two named companions transported it.
RIÉ 185 IIfirst half of the 4th century CEAksum, Ethiopia
ʿEzana’s Beja campaign and royal titulary
The royal text names ʿEzana’s dominions and commemorates the defeat, provisioning, and resettlement of Beja groups under six subordinate kings.
RIÉ 185bis I4th century CEAksum, Ethiopia
The second trilingual victory inscription of ʿEzana
This duplicate of ʿEzana’s Beja victory text preserves the royal titulary and the account of captives, livestock, provisioning, and resettlement more clearly than the earlier-known monument.
RIÉ 189mid-4th century CEAksum, Ethiopia
ʿEzana’s Noba campaign
The inscription presents ʿEzana’s titles and narrates his campaign against the Noba and into Kush, including troop movements, captives, casualties, and livestock totals.
CIH 541548 CEMaʾrib, Yemen
Abraha’s Maʾrib dam inscription
Abraha’s monumental construction text reports rebellion and war, the mobilization of Abyssinian and Himyarite forces, diplomatic receptions, and repairs to the Great Maʾrib Dam.