Axum's King Ezana and the Monumentum Adulitanum Inscription

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the Monumentum Adulitanum, a massive stone inscription from the 3rd century that recorded the conquests of an anonymous Aksumite king, often identified as Sembrouthes or GDRT. Discovered at Adulis and later copied by Cosmas Indicopleustes, the text lists a dazzling sweep of conquered peoples—from the Beja to the Sêsatai and beyond—and reveals Axum's territorial reach deep into the highlands and across to the African interior. Lucas walks through the carving's discovery, the controversies over who commissioned it, and the political message it sent: a king whose power wasn't inherited by blood but won by military might. They also explore how the inscription's language—Ge'ez mixed with Greek and Sabaic—reflects Axum's position as a crossroads of cultures. This episode offers a vivid window into how Aksumite rulers used public writing to legitimize power, assert control over trade routes, and project an empire that rivaled contemporary Rome and Persia. Loaded with place names, tribal names, and a touch of historical detective work. #MonumentumAdulitanum #Adulis #CosmasIndicopleustes #KingEzana #Sembrouthes #GDRT #AksumiteEmpire #Ge'ez #Sêsatai #Beja #Axum #EastAfricanHistory #AncientInscriptions #RedSeaTrade #HornOfAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #AfricanCivilizations Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo