Dʿmt

dʿmt was an ancient kingdom located in parts of present-day Eritrea and the northern Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It was an Ethio-Sabaean kingdom, meaning it had connections with other cultures in the region.

We do not know exactly when dʿmt existed. Some believe it may have been around from the end of the 8th century BC to the 6th century BC. However, very little information about this kingdom has survived. There are only a few inscriptions, and not many archaeological excavations have been done in the area.

Because of this, it is unclear what happened to dʿmt. It might have ended before the Kingdom of Aksum began, or it could have become part of that larger kingdom. Some think dʿmt might have been one of the smaller states that joined together to form the early Kingdom of Aksum, perhaps around 150 BC.

History

Further information: Sabaeans in the Horn of Africa

The kingdom of dʿmt was located in parts of what we now call Eritrea and the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. We do not know exactly when it began or ended, but it likely existed between the late 800s BC and the 600s BC.

One of its important cities may have been Yeha, where a large temple still stands today. The people of dʿmt were skilled farmers and builders. They used tools made from iron, grew crops like millet, and built systems to bring water to their fields. Some historians think that the culture of dʿmt grew up on its own, while others believe it was influenced by traders from the Sabaeans who lived near the Red Sea. After dʿmt ended, smaller kingdoms took over the area until the powerful Aksumite Kingdom rose to rule much later.

Known rulers

Here is a list of four known rulers of dʿmt, shown in the order they ruled: