أركامانى مجلة الآثار والأنثروبولوجيا السـودانية

المؤتمر الدولي الحادي عشر للدراسات المروية - باريس - 2004

أكسوم ونهاية مروي

ميشيل هـ. زاخ

احد أكثر الموضوعات غموضاً وإثارة للجدل في التاريخ المرَّوي يتعلق باشتراك أكسوم في ما يسمى بـ "نهاية مروي". على مدى قرن تقريباً، قدمت العديد من النماذج طبقاً للمصادر المعنية المتوفرة، والتي تزايد حجمها بصورة مستمرة في العقود الماضية.

 

المصادر (وفق ترتيب كرونولوجي مفترض)

النظريات

Despite the argumentation by some scholars that the somewhat meagre evidence relating to Aksumite presence in the middle Nile Valley does not support Meroe’s vassal status prior and subsequent to Ezana’s incursion, consideration of additional Meroitic and especially Aksumite material may well support that theory. The faience statuette Garstang photo E 224 from Meroe representing a woman (queen ?) clearly reflects Aksumite influence based on South Arabian prototypes (e.g. Addis Abeba J.E. 1657, 1555 and 3) and obviously dates around 300 AD. Furthermore, analysis of Aksumite coinage shows the adaption of the Meroitic uraeus diadem in royal iconography from the reign of Aphilas (beginning of 4^th century AD) onwards, expressing Aksum’s supremacy. As for the inscriptional records, the Aksumite kings from Ousanas I. (fl. 320 AD) till Wazebas (fl. 540 AD) also call themselves “kings of Kush”, demonstrating their somewhat continuous legal claim on the middle Nile Valley. In that connection, the Aksumite coin from Meroe can not be brought into any connection with Ezana as usually proposed, but follows a Byzantine pattern appearing in 402 AD first, clearly suggesting a later date.

Conclusions

1.      Meroe had been subjugated by Aksumite forces during the reign of Aphilas and was transformed into a tributary vassal kingdom.

2.      Ezana’s campaign formed only one of several incidents in the process of Aksumite expansion into the middle Nile Valley.

3.      The Meroitic empire did not collapse with Ezana’s incursion, but remained – probably in local remnants – existant for some decades, as shown e.g. by continuation of:

a.       Meroitic funerary rites (e.g. El Hobagi, Umm Makharoqa)

b.      Meroitic language/script – at least on highest social level (REM 0094, 1222)

c.      Meroitic ranks, as e.g. a hegemon of (Lower ?)Nubia (= pesto ?) still acting in 348 AD (P. Ammon) and a “high king” Yisemeniye, referred to in the Kharamadoye inscription (REM 0094) around ca. 400 AD.

4.      At least some of the late Meroitic rulers may have descended from the Northern part of the empire, as e.g. indicated by the name component yesebohe (Aryesebohe, Yeseboheamani). Admittedly hypothetical, their kingship could have been based on military strenghth.

5.      The so-called “invasion” of the Noba did not cause the end of Meroe, but in contrast they seem to have served as its allies (comparable to Rome’s barbarian foederati) against Aksum’s rising pressure.