Dʿmt

Location and Time

dʿmt was an ancient kingdom in parts of today's Eritrea and northern Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It had links with other cultures nearby.

What We Know

We do not know exactly when dʿmt existed. Some think it may have been around from the late 8th century BC to the 6th century BC. Very little information about this kingdom has survived. There are only a few inscriptions, and not many digs have been done in the area.

What Happened to dʿmt?

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 believe dʿmt might have been one of the smaller states that joined together to form early Aksum, perhaps around 150 BC.

History

Further information: Sabaeans in the Horn of Africa

The kingdom of dʿmt was in parts of what is now 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 good 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: