ETHIOPIA, the Biblical Kush. Originally, all the nations inhabiting the southern part of the globe, as known to the ancients; or rather, all men of dark-brown or black color, were called Ethiopians (Gr. aitho—Ops, sunburned). Later, this name was given more particularly to the inhabitants of the countries s. of Libya and Egypt, or the upper Nile, extending from 10° to 25° n. lat., 45° to 58° e. long.—the present Nubia, Sen naar, Kordofan, Abyssinia. The accounts which the ancients have left us with respect to this people are, even where they are not of an entirely fabulous nature, extremely scanty and untrustworthy, as both Greeks and Romans never got beyond Napata, 19° n. lat. We will just mention that from the Homeric age down to Ptolemy—who is some what better informed—these regions were peopled by Pygmies, Troglodytes (dwellers in caverns), Blemmyes (hideous men), Macrobii (long-lived men), etc., besides being divided into the land of cinnamon, myrrh, of elephant-eaters, fish-eaters, tortoise-eaters, serpent eaters, etc. The only portion of ancient records which does contain something akin to historical accounts, is that which refers to Meron, an island formed by the rivers Asta phus and Astaboras, tributaries of the Nile. There stood, from times immemorial, an oracle of Jupiter Ammon. This, and the central portion of the island, together with the extraordinary fertility of its soil, the abundance of animals, metals, etc., made it not only the chief place of resort for all the inhabitants of the adjacent parts, especially the numerous nomad tribes, but also the emporium for India, Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya, and Carthage. Thus it grew so rapidly, that about 1000 B.C. it counted among the most powerful states of the ancient world; and about 760, having ever since Sesos tris been tributary to Egypt, it succeeded, under Sabacus, in shaking off the Egyptian yoke, and continued, in its turn, to hold Egypt for about sixty years. During the reign of Psammetichus, 240,000 Egyptians settled in Mero8, which, the greater part of the immigrants being artisans, traders, etc., rose still higher. Many new cities were built, and the state was in the most flourishing condition, when it was conquered by Cambyses, about 530 B.C. He fortified the capital town, and called it Merck. After the destruction of Thebes by Cambyses, most of the inhabitants of that city took refuge there, and made the country still more Egyptian. Ergamanes transformed its theoc racy into a military monarchy, in the 3d century. Under Augustus, Meroti was con quered, and a queen Candace is mentioned as• his vassal. Under Nero, nothing but ruins marked the place of this once powerful and highly civilized state. Up to this day, remnants of mighty buildings, covered with sculptures—representations of priestly cere monies, battles, etc.—and half-defaced inscriptions hewn in rocks, besides rows of broken sphixnes and colossi, are frequently met with in those parts.
Their religion, art, form of government, and civilization, generally being—in their chief features at least—so identical with the Egyptian as to have given rise to the ques tion, which of the two nations imparted their knowledge to the other, we will refer the reader for these points to the article EGYPT; and will proceed now to say a few words on the history of the descendants of the ancient Ethiopians—the inhabitants of the present Habesch, or Abyssinia—as we derive it from their poor and scanty native chronicles.
According to these, the son of Solomon and the queen of Sheba (Makeda as they, Balkis as the Arabian historians call her), named Menilehek, was the first king of the Ethio pians. Few kings' names occur up to the time of Christ, when Bazen occupied the throne. The missionary Frumentius (330) found two brothers (Christians) reigning Abreha and Azbeha. During the time of the Greek emperor Justin (522), king Elezbaas destroyed the state of the Homerites in Asia, in order to revenge their persecutions Of Christians; and was canonized. From 960 to 1300, another dynasty, the Zagoean, held the chief power, all the members of the Solomonic dynasty, save one, having been mudered by Esal, who made her son king. In 1300, Ikon-Amlak, a descendant of this one scion of the house of David. who had fled to Sheba, regained possession of the country, and made Sheba, instead of Axum, the seat of government. To this day, his family rules the country. Frequent revolutions within, more especially brought about by the religious squabbles imported by the Portuguese towards the end of the 15th c., and a host of enemies all around—the most formidable of whom were wild nomad tribes of the desert—forced the kings more than once to apply for foreign help; amongst others, that of the Turks in 1508; and the affairs of the modern state have at all times been anything but prosperous. Special mention is made of king Zara-Jakob (Constan tine), 1434-68, who sent an embassy to the church-council at Florence: of Aznaf-Saged (Cladius), 1540-59, during whose reign Christopli. de Gama from Portugal lived in E.. and made common cause with him against his enemies. This king also wrote a confession of faith, in wylch he defended his church both against Jesuits and the charge of leaning towards Judaism. Socinios (1605-32) openly professed Roman views; but his son Facilides soon expelled the Jesuits and their friends from the country, and put an end to the Roman influence. Among these friends was also Abba Gregorius, later the friend of the great Ethiopologist Ludolf, who, having made his acquaintance at Rome, induced him to migrate to Gotha; where he also remained until his death. Under Joas (1753-69), the Gallas, a nomad tribe, hitherto the mightiest and most dangerous enemies of the Ethiopians, not only gained admission to all the offices in the state, but acquired almost absolute power. One of them (Susul Michael), holding the place of rash, or prime minister and chief commander of the troops, proved a very great friend to Bruce, to whom he also intrusted the government of a province. The several provinces remained practically independent, each chief striving to subdue his neighbors, till in 1855, the chieftain afterwards known as Theodore (q.v.) attained supremacy. See also art. ABYSSINIA. The king resided but rarely in the city, and for the most part remained with his soldiers in the camp. His official name was Negus, or in full, Negus Nagass Za-itjopja, king of the kings of Ethiopia—alluding to the chiefs of the towns and provinces. The soldiers receive no pay, but rely on plunder; and have proved them selves able to fight bravely.