418 inscriptions

Inscriptions

DʿMT and Aksumite texts in their attested scripts, with published translations and exact sources.

Deutsche Aksum-Expedition photograph of the 52-line RIÉ 189 Ethiopic inscription recording Ezana’s Noba campaign.
RIÉ 189ʿEzana’s Noba campaignAksum, Ethiopia

Catalogue

418 inscriptions in chronological order

Showing 385408
Artifact photograph of Ry 509, reproduced in its DASI record.Ry 509

Ry 509First half of the 5th century CEwādī Maʾsal, Saudi Arabia

Abīkarib Asʿad at Maʾsal

A Ḥimyarite royal campaign inscription of Abīkarib Asʿad and Ḥassān Yuhaʾmin. An Arabian comparison; neither its authorship nor its date is Aksumite.

𐩱𐩨𐩫𐩧𐩨 𐩱𐩪𐩲𐩵 𐩥-𐩨𐩬𐩥-𐩠𐩥 𐩢𐩯𐩬 𐩺𐩠𐩱𐩣𐩬 𐩣𐩡𐩫𐩺 𐩪𐩨𐩱 |

Late SabaicRead text
Fiaccadori 2007

No exact artifact photograph has yet been acquired for public display.

Fiaccadori 2007fifth or sixth century CEGumalē, near Aksum, Ethiopia

Greek epitaph of Kyriakos

A Greek Christian epitaph records the burial of a child named Kyriakos and preserves his age as ten years plus a lost number of months.

✝ Ἐνθάδε κεῖτε Κυρι- ακὸς ζήσ- ας ἤτῃ ι μ- [ῆν(ας)] […]

Ancient GreekRead text
RIÉ 191

The cited edition contains a plate of this inscription; no image is available here.

RIÉ 191early sixth century CEAksum, Ethiopia

Kaleb’s African and Himyarite campaigns

Kaleb’s Geʿez inscription in South Arabian script recounts African campaigns, an expedition toward Himyar, and the foundation of a Christian sanctuary.

𐩱𐩴𐩸𐩱𐩨𐩢𐩧 𐩭𐩺𐩡 𐩥-𐩮𐩬𐩲 𐩱𐩴𐩸𐩱𐩨𐩢𐩧 𐩭𐩺𐩡 𐩥𐩪𐩩 𐩳𐩨𐩱 […] 𐩬𐩴𐩦 𐩱𐩫𐩪𐩣 𐩥-𐩢𐩣𐩧 𐩥-𐩸-𐩧𐩺𐩵𐩬 𐩥-𐩪𐩨𐩱 𐩥-𐩪𐩡𐩢𐩬 𐩥-𐩷𐩵𐩣 𐩥-𐩸-𐩺𐩣𐩬𐩩 𐩥-𐩩𐩠𐩣𐩩 𐩥-𐩢𐩳𐩧𐩣𐩥𐩩 𐩥-𐩫𐩡 𐩲𐩧𐩨𐩣 𐩥-𐩸-𐩨𐩴 𐩥-𐩬𐩨 𐩥-𐩸-𐩫𐩪 𐩥-𐩮𐩺𐩣 𐩥-𐩸-𐩵𐩧𐩨𐩩

Geʿez in South Arabian-derived scriptRead text
RIÉ 192

The cited edition contains a plate of this inscription; no image is available here.

RIÉ 192early sixth century CEAksum, Ethiopia

WʿZB’s campaign against the WYTL

King WʿZB invokes the Trinity and describes his campaign against the WYTL, royal succession, captives, booty, and a dedicatory conclusion.

Native-script transcription is not available here.

Photographs and published facsimiles of Ja 1028, reproduced in its DASI record.Ja 1028

Ja 1028523 CEBiʾr Ḥimā, Saudi Arabia

The Najrān and Mandab campaign

A commander of Yūsuf Asʾar Yathʾar records the destruction of churches and conflict with Abyssinian forces.

𐩡-𐩺𐩨𐩧𐩫𐩬 𐩱𐩡𐩬 𐩹-𐩡-𐩠𐩥 𐩪𐩣𐩺𐩬 𐩥-𐩱𐩧𐩳𐩬 𐩣𐩡𐩫𐩬 𐩺𐩥𐩪𐩰 𐩱𐩪𐩱𐩧 𐩺𐩻𐩱𐩧 𐩣𐩡𐩫 𐩫𐩡 𐩱𐩦𐩲𐩨𐩬 𐩥-𐩡-𐩺𐩨𐩧𐩫𐩬 𐩱𐩤𐩥𐩡𐩬

Late SabaicRead text
Artifact photograph of Ry 507, reproduced in its DASI record.Ry 507

Ry 507523 CEBiʾr Ḥimā, Saudi Arabia

Yūsuf’s campaign: a parallel account

A damaged campaign text recounts attacks at Ẓafār and Makhāwān and operations toward Najrān.

𐩡-𐩺𐩨𐩧𐩫𐩬 𐩱𐩡𐩠𐩬 𐩹-𐩡-𐩠𐩥 𐩪[𐩣𐩺𐩬 𐩥-𐩱𐩧𐩳𐩬 𐩣𐩡𐩫𐩬 𐩺𐩪𐩰 𐩱𐩪𐩱𐩧 𐩺𐩻𐩱𐩧 𐩣𐩡𐩫 𐩫𐩡] 𐩱𐩦𐩲𐩨𐩬 [𐩥-𐩡-𐩺𐩨𐩧𐩫]𐩬 𐩱𐩤𐩡-𐩠𐩣𐩥 𐩥-𐩣𐩧𐩱𐩪-𐩠𐩣𐩥

Late SabaicRead text
Artifact photograph of Ry 508, reproduced in its DASI record.Ry 508

Ry 508523 CEʿān-Halkān, Saudi Arabia

Yūsuf’s campaign inscription

A Ḥimyarite commander’s account of attacks on Abyssinians and churches, and preparations at Mandab and Najrān.

𐩤𐩺𐩡𐩬 𐩦𐩧𐩢𐩱𐩡 𐩺𐩤𐩨𐩡 𐩨𐩬 𐩦𐩧𐩢𐩨𐩱𐩡 𐩺𐩫𐩣𐩡 𐩨𐩬𐩥 𐩺𐩸𐩱𐩬 𐩥-𐩴𐩵𐩬𐩣 𐩥-𐩢𐩨𐩣 𐩥-𐩬𐩪𐩱𐩬 𐩥-𐩶𐩨𐩱

Late SabaicRead text
Artifact photograph of CIH 621, reproduced in its DASI record.CIH 621

CIH 621530 CEBiʾr ʿAlī, Yemen

The fortress of Mwyt

Sumyafaʿ Ashwaʿ and his sons record repairs to a fortress after returning from Ḥabašat and an Abyssinian invasion of Ḥimyar.

𐩪𐩣𐩺𐩰𐩲 𐩱𐩦𐩥𐩲 𐩥-𐩨𐩬𐩺-𐩠𐩥 𐩦𐩧𐩢𐩨𐩱𐩡 𐩺𐩫𐩣𐩡 𐩥-𐩣𐩲𐩵𐩫𐩧𐩨 𐩺𐩲𐩰𐩧 𐩨𐩬𐩺 𐩡𐩢𐩺𐩲𐩩 |

Late SabaicRead text
Artifact photograph of Ist 7608 bis, reproduced in its DASI record.Ist 7608 bis

Ist 7608 bisc. 530s CEḌāf, Yemen

Sumyafaʿ Ashwaʿ and Aksum

A Christian royal fragment names Sumyafaʿ Ashwaʿ, the rulers of Aksum, and Ella Aṣbeḥa. Its relationship to Wellcome A 103664 is uncertain.

[... ... 𐩥-𐩣𐩬]𐩰𐩪 𐩤𐩵𐩪 𐩪𐩣𐩺𐩰𐩲 𐩱𐩦𐩥𐩲 𐩣𐩡𐩫 𐩪[𐩨𐩱 ... ...]

Late SabaicRead text
The fragmentary vocalized-Geʿez RIÉ 195 inscription from Maʾrib, probably commissioned by Kaleb.RIÉ 195

RIÉ 195about 530 CEMaʾrib, Yemen

Aksumite Geʿez victory inscription from Maʾrib

Two fragmentary Geʿez slabs preserve an Aksumite account of a Red Sea crossing, fighting, captives, a Himyarite king, and the burning of the palace of Sabaʾ.

…ወተ…፡ …፡ ወያዓቢየከ፡ …፡ …ዶኩ፡ መርሰ፡ ዘስሙ፡ …፡ …ለ፡ ምስለ፡ አሕዛቢ…፡ …፡ ከመ፡ ይቤ፡ መዝሙር፡ ይትነሣእ፡ …፡ …፡ ጸላእቱ፡ እምቅድመ፡ ገጹ፡ …፡ …፡ ወፄውዎ፡ ወበርበረ…፡ …ሰደደ፡ አሕዛበ፡ እምቅድመ፡ …፡ …ቤትኩ፡ ውስተ፡ ሐመር፡ …፡ …ታ፡ ሐይቃ፡ ዘመጠወኒ፡ እግዚአ፡ ብሔር፡ …፡ …መራን፡ ወመንፈቁ፡ አሕዛብየ፡ …፡ …፡ መንፈቁ፡ አሕዛብየ፡ ወረደ፡ እንተ፡ ቀርጸ፡ …፡ …መንፈቁ፡ አሕዛብየ፡ ወረደ፡ …፡

RIÉ 263 / ZM 237, a nine-line vocalized-Geʿez stone fragment from Ẓafār.RIÉ 263

RIÉ 263sixth century CEẒafār, Yemen

RIÉ 263 / ZM 237, Geʿez fragment at Ẓafār

A nine-line Geʿez fragment from Himyar preserves isolated phrases from an Aksumite report; no continuous sentence survives.

1 … [word dividers] … 2 … nə wa-ʾābəḥ … 3 … [hāy]mānota ʾab … 4 … ʾangabenāy la … 5 … [K]rəstos yəma[wwəʾ] … 6 … qa ba-ṣərʾ ba-sa[lām] … 7 … nāwi wa-baṣaḥku … 8 … [waʿa]lku samuna ʿəla[ta] … 9 … yəśśənu śa …

Source register

Source register

RIÉ 1–443, with separately numbered text versions, supplements, and Arabian witnesses from the checked corpus and DASI. Dates and uncertain identifications follow the cited editions; missing texts, translations, and images are recorded below.

481–512 of 512 entries. Copies and language versions retain their own references.

Aksumite corpus & Arabian witnesses30
  1. Ry 506

    552 CE · Murayghān, Saudi Arabia · Late Sabaic

    Abraha records a campaign against Maʿadd, military detachments, submission, and hostages.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  2. Ry 507

    523 CE · Biʾr Ḥimā, Saudi Arabia · Late Sabaic

    A damaged campaign text recounts attacks at Ẓafār and Makhāwān and operations toward Najrān.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  3. Ry 508

    523 CE · ʿān-Halkān, Saudi Arabia · Late Sabaic

    A Ḥimyarite commander’s account of attacks on Abyssinians and churches, and preparations at Mandab and Najrān.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  4. Sayed / Murayghān 2

    6th century CE; probably c. 552 · Murayghān, Saudi Arabia · Late Sabaic

    The qayl Mns¹ dhū-Dharnḥ records accompanying King Abraha on a campaign against Maʿadd.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  5. Wellcome A 103664

    6th century CE · Unknown, Unknown · Late Sabaic

    A fragmentary Christian inscription mentions Aksum and Abyssinian forces at Ṣanʿāʾ; it may belong to the same text as Ist 7608 bis.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  6. CIH 308

    Late 2nd–early 3rd century CE · Jabal Riyām, Yemen · Sabaic

    A Sabaean dedication records an alliance with GDRT, king of Ḥabašat. Several ancient copies preserve this longer version.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  7. CIH 308 bis

    Late 2nd–early 3rd century CE · Jabal Riyām, Yemen · Sabaic

    The shorter recension of the Riyām dedication, preserved in several copies. The photograph shows Gl 870+872.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  8. CIH 314+954

    3rd century CE · al-ʿAmāyid / ʿArsh Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Two Sabaean officers dedicate bronze statues and record an embassy from Shammar dhū-Raydān and the tribes of Ḥabašat.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  9. CIH 350

    3rd century CE · Unknown, Unknown · Sabaic

    A damaged dedication recounts campaigns against several opponents, including Ḥabašat.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  10. Ry 533

    Early 3rd century CE · Rayda, Yemen · Sabaic

    Commanders serving Shaʿirum Awtar recount campaigns by land and sea in a dedication to their solar deity.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  11. MAFRAY-al-Miʿsāl 2

    253 CE · al-Miʿsāl, Yemen · Sabaic

    A military commemoration in the temple of the solar deity ʿAlyat, dated in the Ḥimyarite era.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  12. MAFRAY-al-Miʿsāl 5

    272 CE · al-Miʿsāl, Yemen · Sabaic

    A long temple text recounts military service under successive Ḥimyarite kings and campaigns involving Abyssinian forces.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  13. Ir 12

    Early 3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Wfym ʾḏrḥ dedicates a bronze statue and bull after defending Ḥashid during the reign of Shaʿirum Awtar.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved from the checked sources.
  14. Ir 19

    3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Two qayls dedicate bronze statues after campaigns of Ilsharaḥ Yaḥḍub and Yaʾzil Bayyin against Ḥabašat and their allies.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  15. Ir 20

    3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Hʿn dedicates a bronze statue after a campaign against Abyssinian forces under Nashʾakarib Yuʾmin Yuharḥib.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved from the checked sources.
  16. Ir 28

    c. 312–316 CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    A Sabaean envoy records travel to the land of Ḥabašat and the Aksumites and his return with Abyssinian envoys.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved from the checked sources.
  17. Ja 574

    3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Two Sabaean kings dedicate silver statues after fighting Abyssinian forces and their allies in the western lowlands.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  18. Ja 575

    3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    A fragmentary royal dedication recounts a campaign from Ṣanʿāʾ into Sahratān and the coastal country.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved from the checked sources.
  19. Ja 631

    Early 3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Qṭbn ʾwkn records an embassy to GDRT, king of Ḥabašat and the Aksumites, followed by campaigns involving the prince BYGT.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved from the checked sources.
  20. Ja 635

    Early 3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    A dedication from the Awwām temple recounts military service, including operations involving Abyssinian forces.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved from the checked sources.
  21. Robin-Umm Laylā 1

    c. 160–190 CE · Umm Laylā, Yemen · Sabaic

    A tribal agreement to strengthen defences and restore cisterns after Abyssinian forces reached the country.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  22. Ir 69

    3rd century CE · al-ʿAmāyid / ʿArsh Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    A Barʾān dedication combines favourable oracles, diplomacy with Ḥimyar, and campaigns against Abyssinian forces.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  23. FB-Maḥram Bilqīs 2

    First half of the 3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    An Awwām dedication recounts conflict with Abyssinian forces in Sihām and Wādī Ḥaraḍ under Laḥayʿathat Yarkham.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  24. Ja 585

    3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    Two brothers thank ʾAlmaqah for their father’s return after an embassy to the Abyssinians and imprisonment at S³wm.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  25. Murayghān 3

    c. 552 CE · Murayghān, Saudi Arabia · Late Sabaic

    A royal rock inscription records Abraha’s authority over Maʿadd and other Arabian communities.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  26. Ja 576+577

    3rd century CE · Maḥram Bilqīs, Yemen · Sabaic

    A long dedication of Ilsharaḥ Yaḥḍub and Yaʾzil Bayyin recounts wars, hostages, and conflict involving Abyssinian forces.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  27. Gr 210

    Late 2nd–early 3rd century CE · Jabal Riyām, Yemen · Sabaic

    A fragmentary statue base preserves a shorter version of CIH 308, including GDRT and the alliance.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    Partial English rendering: lines 10–11 only.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  28. al-Ḥasanī 2017

    Middle Sabaic period; absolute date uncertain · Jabal Ḏaẖār, Yemen · Sabaic

    A damaged building inscription records repairs to a city, houses, towers, and a burial place after an attack by an Abyssinian army. The surviving year-number is 98 or 198; its absolute date is not established here.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  29. Nāmī NAG 13–14

    Late 2nd–early 3rd century CE · South Arabia · Sabaic

    Alliance witness cited in the scholarly inventory; exact edition identified.

    Original
    Full edition not retrieved.
    English
    Full English translation not retrieved.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved.
  30. MAFRAY al-Miʿsāl 3

    3rd century CE · Jabal Miʿsāl, Yemen · Sabaic

    Rock inscription cited for campaigns against Abyssinians; lines 8–9 are discussed in the corpus.

    Original
    Full edition not retrieved.
    English
    Full English translation not retrieved.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved.
Earlier, later & uncertain comparisons2
  1. Ry 509

    First half of the 5th century CE · wādī Maʾsal, Saudi Arabia · Late Sabaic

    A Ḥimyarite royal campaign inscription of Abīkarib Asʿad and Ḥassān Yuhaʾmin. An Arabian comparison; neither its authorship nor its date is Aksumite.

    Original
    Full surviving edited text; losses and uncertain letters retained.
    English
    English translation of the surviving text; credit and qualifications in the reader.
    Image
    Verified artifact image or labelled facsimile.
  2. DAI Barʾān 2000-1

    Early 3rd century CE · Barʾān temple, Maʾrib, Yemen · Sabaic

    Campaign account of Shaʿirum Awtar cited as historical context; its text does not explicitly name Aksum or Ḥabašat.

    Original
    Edited Sabaic text available in DASI.
    English
    English and German translations available in DASI.
    Image
    No exact artifact image retrieved.