tive coincides so remarkably with the statement from the native Chronicles, that there can no longer exist a doubt, I conceive, that both refer to the same facts.
The same author afterwards gives an account of an embassy sent by Justinian to the Emperor of the Axomites, whom he there calls Elesbóas,[1] (in the Abyssinian language signifying the blessed;) thus, fortunately, identifying Anda, Ameda, and Elesboas as titles of the same sovereign. Now Cedrenus, who mentions these transactions, says, that St. Arétas, whose murder by the Homerites gave occasion to the expedition of Elesboas, died in the fifth year of the Emperor Justin;[2] and he also relates, "that in the fifteenth year of Justinian, Adadus" (Αδαδ, which is an evident corruption of Amda or Anda) fought with the Homerites, and subdued their King Damianus," ('Δαμιανον') likewise a corruption of "Dimnus," or Dunowas,) after which "he took possession of the country; and in gratitude to God (ευχαριϛησας τῳ θεῳ) dispatched an embassy to the Emperor Justinian, to send him bishops and clergymen, and all the country was baptised and became Christians."[3] The facts in this last account agree very exactly with the others, excepting in the last statement, which appears to be somewhat incorrect; for it is evident from Cosmos and other writers, that these "holy men" had no pretensions to the honour of introducing Christianity into the country, but
- ↑ Vide p. 196, where in a note on the word Ελεσβόας, it is observed, "supra Andas vocatur rex iste Auxumitarum:" the account of this embassy has been quoted by Gibbon. Vol. V. p. 422.
- ↑ Vide Vol. I, p. 364
- ↑ Vide p. 374
Χριϛιανὸς γίνομαι. Ὑπὲρ γὰρ τῶν Χριϛτιανῶν πολεμῶ αὐτῷ. Καὶ νικήσας ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἀυξοθμιτῶν, καὶ παραλαβὼν αὐτὸν αἰχμάλωτον, ἀνεῖλεν αὐτὸν, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν βοήθειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν χώραν καὶ τα βασίλεῖα αὐτου ἔλαβε. Καὶ μετὰ τὴν νίκην ἔπεμψε συγκλητικοὺς αὐτοῦ δύο, καὶ μετ’ αὐτῶν διακοσίους ἐν Ἀλεξανδρεία, δεόμενος τοῦ βασιλέως Ιουϛτίνιανοῦ, ὥϛε λαβεῖν αὐτὸν ἐπίσκοπον, καὶ κλήρικοὺς, καὶ κατηχηθηναι καὶ διδαχθῆναι τὰ Χριϛιανῶν μυϛήρια, καὶ φωτισθῆναι, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν Ινδικὴν χώραν ὑπὸ Ῥωμαιους γενεσθαι, Και εμηνύθη τῳ βασιλεῖ Ιουϛινιανῷ παντὰ διὰ Λικινίου, Αυγαϛαλιου Αλεξανδρείας· καὶ ἐθέσπισεν ὁ αὐτος βασιλεὺς, ὅντινα βούλονται ἐπίσκοπον λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς. Καὶ ἐπελέξαντο οἱ ἀυτοὶ πρεσβυται Ινδοὶ τὸν παρα μονάριον τοῦ ἁγίου Ιωάννου τοῦ ἐν Αλεξανδρεία, ανδρα εὐλαβῆ, παρθενον, ονοματι Ιώαννην ὄντα ἐνιαυτῶν ὡς ἑξηκοντα δύο, και λαβοντες τὸν ἐπίσκοπον, καὶ τȣς κληρικοὺς οὕς αὐτος επελέξατο, απήγαγον εἰς τὴν Ινδικὴν χώραν πρὸς ΑΝΔΑΝ τον βασιλέα αὐτῶν.
