Monday, November 17, 2014

Ethiopian Star of David Appears for the first time in 1866



Imperial coat of arms of Ethiopia - Menelik II
CC
 Source: Wikimedia

Ian Campbell discovered that "The emergence of an official imperial Ethiopian coat of arms occurred during the reign of Emperor Menilek II [1889-1913]. There had been earlier coats of arms attributed to Ethiopian emperors, but these appeared only in European publications, and are not known to have been used in Ethiopia or even authorised by the sovereigns concerned... In 1866, during the reign of Tewedros [1818 –1868], the six-pointed star of David, which when incorporated with the Greek Cross is known as the seal of Solomon or the shield of Solomon, came to be depicted for the first time on a Ethiopian military award"
it appears on the Coat of Arms of Empress Zauditu [Zewditu I] (1916-1930)... and on the Coat of Arms of Empreror Haile Selassie I (1930-1973).

Source:   Orient meets occident at the imperial throne: the origins, evolution and symbolism of the Royal Ethiopian Coat Of Arms by Ian Campbell, published in
Äthiopien zwischen Orient und Okzident : wissenschaftliche Tagung der Gesellschaft Orbis Aethiopicus - Köln, 9.-11.10.1998 / Walter Raunig, Asfa-Wossen Asserate/