Snakes and Sacrifices: Tentative Insights into the Pre-Christian Ethiopian Religion

Despite the recent efforts which were recently made in this field of study, our knowledge
of the pre-Christian religion of Aksumite Northern Ethiopia remains very limited. This
article presents the contribution that archaeology can make to debate on this topic. In
particular, some archaeological finds from Betä Giyorgis, north of Aksum, and from
Aksum itself which can be related to the cult of the snake and to the practice of human
sacrifices are described. These finds, dating from the Proto-Aksumite (3rd–1st centuries
B.C.) and the first part of the Aksumite (1st–4th centuries A.D.) periods, may support the
reality of the cult of the snake and of the practice of human sacrifices, two elements characterizing
the Ethiopian traditions related to Arwe, the mythic snake-king of Aksum. In the
conclusions, these specific aspects which may have characterized the pre-Christian Ethiopian
religion are put in a broader regional context, compared to what is known about similar
cultic traits in the Nile valley, in the Near East, and in South Arabia. Possible links to be
explored with further research covering the different traditions are suggested. Moreover, a
possible evolution in the meaning of the snake in Ethiopia, from benevolent and helpful
entity to dangerous monster, and, finally, to symbol of sin, is outlined.