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NEGLECTED ÆTHIOPIAN HISTORY: ‘THE LIFE & MARTYRDOM OF ST. MATTHEW AMONG THE ÆTHIOPIANS’ REJECTED AND IGNORED BY ETHIOPIANIST PAST AND PRESENT [Abstract ID: 0513-01]
'Neglect' of the most important piece of literature, which records therein the early history of Æthiopian kingship, government and socio-religious practices at the turn of History itself (1st cent. AD), and which answers the long contentious question, surely once and for all, viz. the relation between ancient Ægypt, lower Nubian Kush and Upper Æthiopia proper (Abyssinia) in the ancient (classical) times, besides so many other unanswered conundrums, is the greatest tragedy not only for Æthiopia and its People, but for Æthiopian Historical and Academic Research. The work of which we speak is 'De rebus gestis a Beato Matthæo Apostolo et Evangelista' (lib.vii) in 'De Historiæ Certaminis Apostolicæ' by Abdias Bishop of Babylon, originally written in the Hebrew-language of the 1st Century, Translated into Greek, by his disciple Eutropius, then into Latin by the Church-Father, Sextus Julius Africanus in the late 2nd century (and later transferred into diverse tongues). Accordingly at its core a 'hagiographical-work' with a manuscript tradition stretching over vast portions of Europe, including Italia, Deutschland, England, France &c. This is to say, from the very nations of which the institutional scholars who have sway in Ethiopian studies past and present issue forth, who from the 16th to the 21st centuries have all neglected and ignored a work of such magnitude (ramifications) that it can hardly be comprehended on the one hand or its importance overstated, for nothing if any, is spoken of this 'Chronicle' in any of the international literatures penned and overseen by such scholars/institutions. The consequence of which has impacted 'academia at large' and the continual barrage of unsubstantiated (unscientific) repetitions and even prejudice of six centuries, has dominated (shaped) Ethiopian studies itself. Furthermore it is so grave it has defaced the very fabric of Æthiopian 'cultural heritage', 'identity' and its historicity and place in 'ancient, mediaeval, religious and world history'. In contrast, the paper deems to evidence the veracity of the manuscript tradition, shew rich aspects of its historical account, while additionally supplementing with Indigenous-oral-hagiographical (historical) Æthiopian attestations. Also highlighting what impact it ought to (will) have on the social sciences and wider context moving forward.