UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

Ancient Civilizations of Africa
represents an important person, 'even a mukarrib or a chief, bearing the
name of RFS, who is presenting to the goddess whose statue rested inside
the naos the insignia of power - a fan or parasol and a club - and who is
preceded by a buxom woman, presumed to be his wife who is offering a
staff. 27 Although this explanation seems at present to be the most plausible,
it is difficult to allow that the noun RFS applies to the large figure,given
its position. Furthermore, the association between the mother-goddess and
the symbols of the male moon-god would have to be explained.
The sculpture of the south Arabian period is also represented by
sphinxes, although, apart from a small fragment discovered at Melazo, 28
they have so far been found only in Erythrea. The best-preserved sphinx
comes from Addi Gramaten, north-east of Kaskasé. Its hair is plaited, as it
is in some Aksumite pottery heads of a later period and as it is worn by the
women of Tigre today, and round its neck is a three-stranded necklace. 29
The necklace is also found on the forequarters of two sphinxes with
hammer-wrought facets that stand out from a stone plaque found at
Matara. 30 Another sphinx, very badly damaged, has been found at Dibdib,
south of Matara. 31 J. Pirenne points out that these lions with human heads
have nothing in common with the griffins and winged sphinxes of the
Phoenician tradition which were produced in south Arabia at a later
period. 32 Perhaps we should look for Egyptian or Meroitic prototypes,
origins already suggested for a south Arabian head with plaited hair and a
necklace. 33
One category of objects carved in stone that is particularly well
represented in northern Ethiopia is that of incense altars. Most of these
belong to a type that is well known in south Arabia: a cubic altar with
architectural decoration, often standing on a pyramidal base. The most
beautiful example, which, according to J. Pirenne, surpasses all the south
Arabian examples, is the altar of Addi Galamo, but a series of altars in
various states of preservation has been found at Gobochela in Melazo,
several have been found at Yeha, and fragments have been found at
Matara or at unidentified places. 34 A group of four altars found at
27. J. Pirenne, 1967, p. 132.
28. J. Leclant, 1959b, p. 51, PI. XLII, a.
29. A. Davico, pp. 1-6.
30. F. Anfray, 1965, p. 59, PI. LXIII, 4.
31. C. Conti-Rossini, 1928, p. 225, PI. XLIII, Nos 128-9; V. Franchini, pp. 5-16,
Figs 7-8, 11-1.
32. J. Pirenne, 1965, pp. 1046-7.
33. A. Grohamm, 1927, Fig. 55.
34. Addi Galamo: A. Caquot and A. J. Drewes, pp. 26-32, Plates IX-XI; Gobochela:
J. Leclant, 1959b, pp. 47-53; A. J. Drewes, 1959, pp. 90-7, Plates XXX, XXXI, XXXIV,
XXXVIII; J. Pirenne, 1970, p. 119, PI. XXIV, b; Yeha: A. J. Drewes and R. Schneider,
1970, pp. 58-9, PI. XVI, p. 62, PI. XIX; Matara: F. Anfray and G. Annequin, pp. 59,
75, 89-91, Plates LXIII, 3, LXXI; unidentified sites: R. Schneider, 1961, p. 64, PI.
XXXVIII, b.
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