Axum's King Sembrouthes and the Monumentum Adulitanum

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of King Sembrouthes, a lesser-known Aksumite ruler who left behind one of the most important inscriptions in Ethiopian history: the Monumentum Adulitanum. This stone monument, originally inscribed in Greek, recounts Sembrouthes' military campaigns across the Red Sea and into the Arabian Peninsula, as well as his patronage of trade and diplomacy. The hosts discuss how the inscription survived through a copy made by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the 6th century, providing a rare contemporary account of Axum's power in the 3rd century AD. They delve into the geopolitical context of the time, including Axum's rivalry with the Sabaeans and Himyarites, and the kingdom's role as a middleman in the Indian Ocean trade. The episode also touches on the controversies surrounding the monument's interpretation and its significance for understanding Axum's early imperial ambitions. #Axum #Aksum #Sembrouthes #MonumentumAdulitanum #CosmasIndicopleustes #Adulis #Himyar #Sabaean #Ge'ez #RedSea #IndianOceanTrade #Epigraphy #AncientEthiopia #3rdCentury #Kush #Beja #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo