Inscription of Ezana in Greek, Sabaean script and Ge’ez (RIÉ 185 and 270)

Set up in the name of Ezana, king of AksumMid-fourth century AD

A stone slab from Aksum, about two and a half metres high, with the same royal text in Greek and in Ge’ez written in two scripts. Ezana styles himself son of the unconquered god Ares and dedicates statues to him after a campaign against the Beja.

This is the monument often called the Ezana Stone. It carries three versions of one text: in Ge’ez in South Arabian letters, in Ge’ez in the unvocalised Ethiopic script, and in Greek. A second set of the same three texts also exists (RIÉ 185 bis and 270 bis).

In the Greek, the king gives his name as Aeizanas and his titles as king of the Aksumites, the Himyarites, Raeidan, the Ethiopians, the Sabaeans, Silee, Tiamo, the Beja and Kasu, king of kings, son of the unconquered god Ares (lines 1–6). He relates that he sent his brothers Saiazana and Adephas against the Beja, resettled the six chiefs who surrendered with their people, and in thanks to Ares who begot him dedicated one statue of gold, one of silver and three of bronze (lines 6–31). The Ge’ez versions name the god Mahrem where the Greek has Ares.

It is the king’s own statement and contemporary with him. It shows Ezana using the traditional religious style of the Aksumite kings, and it names a brother, Saiazana, whose name is close to that of the Sazanes addressed with him in the letter of Constantius II quoted by Athanasius. It is not dated.

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