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MYTH AND REALITY SURROUNDING THE ROLE OF ABAY IN SHAPING THE LONG STANDING HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MIDDLE AGES [Abstract ID: 1211-08]
In connection to Ethiopia’s recent move to assert its fare share of the Nile waters, the role of Abay/the Nile in shaping Ethiopia’s relationship with the Nile riparian states in general and Egypt in particular has come to the fore. The history of the role of Abay/the Nile in shaping the relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt is however a long standing one. This has to do with the fact that while Abay, that is the Blue Nile, which is the source of more than a three quarters of the waters of the Nile has its origin in Ethiopia, Egypt almost totally depends on it for its survival. Using mostly ancient and medieval sources written on European languages this paper will explore various views, both mythical and real, that were circulating from ancient times to the middle ages, regarding the role of the Abay in shaping the relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt. In doing so, the paper will also explore the implication of such role of Abay/the Nile in shaping western perceptions about Ethiopia.