Paper for Issue

ON THE LOCATION OF RETENU LAND FEATURED IN OLD EGYPTIAN RECORDS

Abstract

Ever since the land of Retenu appeared in the inscriptions of Egyptian monuments, it was readily assumed to denote Syria- Palestine. Over the subsequent decades, doubt has been cast on this toponymic designation, and attempts have been made to assign an alternative location. This paper addresses the difficulties surrounding such assignment and provides evidence pointing towards a location in the Yemen of south Arabia. The identified location is Wadi Adhanah basin which lies in the center of the country and is considered the largest water resource basin in the country. It was found that toponyms mentioned in the Egyptian monuments and records are identical to the ancient topographical locations in and around Wadi Adhanah. Furthermore, the recent advances in archaeology established a vivid bronze age culture in the Yemen which featured material culture and resources that copies what was recorded in the Egyptian and south Arabian records. The strategic location of the wadi Adhanah and Yemen in general across the Red Sea from Egypt, and its wealth of produce, made it an attractive economic supplier, who was often subjected to the campaigns of the kings of Egypt. Unlike southern Arabia, Syria-Palestine did not have natural and material resources mentioned in the Egyptian records that were obtained from Retenu.

HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS ON “JINN-AFFLICTED” ILLNESSES IN WALLO, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study makes an attempt to reconstruct the history of the most widely held socio-cultural and religious belief on spiritual entities known alternatively as Jinn, Ganen, Diablos, Saytan, and Aganent. These noxious spiritual beings were believed to be responsible for a range of human illnesses against which diverse kinds of indigenous preventive and therapeutic methods had been employed. Recording disease causations is an important step towards an understanding of the underlying beliefs and attitudes of a community along with its therapeutic preferences to maintain the physical and social wellbeing. The data gathered in this kind of study may well be used as an input for conventional medicine to comprehend and devise appropriate health education and intervention strategy. Making use of both primary and secondary sources the research will shed a ray of light on this existential and ingrained worldview.

ISLAM STATE AND SOCIETY IN ETHIOPIA: A BIBLIOGRAPHIC ESSAY

Abstract

This study examines selected works on Islam, Muslim communities, and the Ethiopian state from early times to twentieth centuries. It is evident that Islam and Muslim communities have been an integral part of the Ethiopian societies since its introduction to the country, but it is one of the less studied thematic areas in the Ethiopian historiography. Although there is steadily increment of research on Islam, Muslim communities and Muslim spaces in Ethiopia, the historical lacuna is still apparent in studying and understanding Islam and Muslims in Ethiopian history and culture, especially in northwest provinces of the country such as Gondar. The study applies survey of the available sources on the topic under consideration. It examines both available primary and secondary sources. The examined sources show the significance of Islamic culture and its adherents in the Ethiopian state.

ኣጭር ሐተታ ስለ ግዕዝ ቁጥር አመጣጥ

Abstract

The origin of Ethiopic numerical signs has been a subject of controversy and hot debate among scholars. No consensus is yet reached. Two groups are immediately noticeable: those who claim Greek origin and those ascribe Geᶜez numerical signs to Ethiopian origin. In this short essay, I will argue that the suggestion of those who claim a Greek origin is largely on a priori assumptions. These scholars base their interpretation solely on medieval paleographical traditions, because the two inscriptions bearing the earliest Geᶜez numerical signs were revealed to scholars relatively recently. RIÉth 218 from Anza (near the town of Hauzen, Eastern Tegray) and HS1 from Ḥǝnzat (not far from the small town of Edaga Arbi, Central Tegray) were discovered in 1939 and 2011 respectively. The inscription designated HS1 (Ḥǝnzat Stela 1) is important because it bears the oldest numerical ciphers which indicate the usage of symbols (figures) to represent numerals in Geᶜez (Ethiopic); in older inscriptions numbers were written in words. I will argue that Geᶜez numerical signs may have originated from non-vocalized Geᶜez alphabets and Geᶜez punctuation stroke.