AETHIOPICA
Aethiopica. International Journal of Ethiopian and Eritrean Studies welcomes contributions on all aspects of linguistics, philology, history, archeology, palaeography, religion(s), traditional art and culture as well as ethnology (anthropology) related to the Horn of Africa. Vignette: Articles, reviews, conference reports, notes and all correspondence concerning editorial matters should be sent to: Aethiopica, Abteilung Afrikanistik und Äthiopistik, Universität Hamburg, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1 – Ostflügel, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; Fax: +49 (0)40 42838–5675; e-mail: Aethiopica@uni-hamburg.de. Contributors are requested to submit their contributions in the form of diskette and printout. Additional information can be found at http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/AETHIOPICA. Only unpublished contributions are accepted for publication. The decision will be made by the editorial management in consultation with the board members. All views represented in the papers are those of the authors. Authors will receive 10 free offprints of their contribution. Subscription orders can be placed with booksellers and agencies or directly with Harrassowitz Verlag, 65147 Wiesbaden, Germany; Fax: +49 611 530570; e-mail: verlag@harrassowitz.de. Editorial Team Maija Priess Editorial Board David Appleyard, London Publication of this journal was supported by a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. © Otto Harrassowitz KG, Wiesbaden 2010 This journal, including all of its parts, is protected by copyright. Any use beyond the limits of copyright law without the permission of the publisher is forbidden and subject to penalty. This applies particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage and processing in electronic systems. ISSN 1430–1938 Last Updated Monday, December 06, 2010
(c) Thomas Rave
International Journal
of Ethiopian and Eritrean Studies
Gold coin of King Aphilas, early 3rd century A.D., as drawn by A. Luegmeyer after the coin in Rennau collection. Weight 2.48 grams, diameter 17 mm.
Thomas Rave
Rodolfo Fattovich, Napoli
Marilyn E. Heldman, Silver Spring
Olga Kapeliuk, Jerusalem
Richard Pankhurst, Addis Ababa/London
Alain Rouaud, Paris
Shiferaw Bekele, Addis Ababa
Rainer Voigt, Berlin
Printing and binding by Memminger MedienCentrum Druckerei und Verlags-AG
Printed on permanent/durable paper.
Printed in Germany
www.harrassowitz-verlag.de