Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Aksumite Empire



The Aksumite Empire is named after its capital city Aksum, a trading nation that existed in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, in northeastern Africa, between 4th century BC and 1st century AD.

The city of Aksum and its rulers profited immensely as one of the major powers of the Red Sea. Its port Adulis was a crucial point in the route that connected the Roman Empire to wealthy India via the Red Sea network. The Aksum wealth it gained from the trade was used to conquer rival neighbors such as the Kingdom of Kush.


Aksum came to control much of northeast Africa as well as parts of the Middle East by the early 4th century, but by the 7th centry its power started to dwindle when Muslim sailors were gaining control over trade via the Red Sea.

It converted to Christianity in the beginning of the 4th century, when the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion was first built (it was restored many times), and many believe this church is the place where the Ark of the Covenant holds the Ten Commandments. According to wisegeek.com, "The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims that the Ark was brought to the region by Menelik I on his way back from a meeting with King Solomon, his father. The Ark is said to be held in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, and is watched over by a guardian who is appointed for life. None but the guardian may view the Ark, and the guardian may never leave the chapel where the Ark is held." In this church is also where Ethiopian emperors were crowned. The Queen of Sheba lived in Aksum, and today her legendary bath is a historic site, a large reservoir that was carved out of solid rock at least a millennium before her time.

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

2 comments:

Ethio DJ rapper said...

Well you rocked it amber, you just helped me out with my homework ...thanks i copie and pasted it....well some of it...thanks a lot amber your awesme and guess what..m ethiopian and i believe the Ark Of The Covenent is there in Ethiopia @ Akksimite empire

Ethio DJ rapper said...

yah,,,its me again ..just in case my name is surafel .....and check out my blog im an ethiopian Dj and beatboxer also a comedian....hahahahah see yah lator(later) i like to read it as a LaTOR amber.....adios...comment on my blog and add me on face book..heeheh its "Ethiopian surafel simesh"

The name Amaranth comes from the Greek amarantos, meaning the "one that does not wither," or the never-fading (flower).

There are numerous different types of amaranths, as there are many different peoples of Africa, but they are all red or purple in color. Perhaps these colors can be viewed as symbols? Red is usually associated with love, and purple with royalty or nobility. The first could represent the love of God, as well as the love that has tied the people together through the centuries and the hardships. The second could symbolize veneration or glory, or God's promise of fortune.