Axum's King Armah and the Last Aksumite Gold Coins

This episode examines the reign of King Armah, one of the last rulers of the Kingdom of Aksum, whose gold coins provide a window into the empire's twilight. We discuss the iconography on Armah's coinage, including the mysterious cross-and-dot pattern and the first appearance of the Arabic phrase 'bism Allah'. The conversation explores how Axum's economy, once a linchpin of Red Sea trade, faltered as Islamic powers rose and the gold supply from the interior dwindled. We also consider the competing theories about Armah's identity—was he the same as the legendary Ashama ibn Abjar who sheltered the first Muslim refugees from Mecca? The episode touches on the Kebra Nagast, the decline of Adulis, and the shift of the Ethiopian political center southward. It offers a nuanced look at how coinage reveals the cultural and political shifts of a fading empire. #Axum #KingArmah #AksumiteCoins #GoldStater #BismAllah #KebraNagast #AshamaAbjar #Adulis #RedSeaTrade #IslamicExpansion #EthiopianHistory #Numismatics #LateAntiquity #AksumiteDecline #Ge'ez #Sassanid #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo