The Anointing of the Kings and the Liturgy of Hosanna in Aksum: Two Mirroring Rites, Witnesses of Medieval Times
Résumé
This article explores the historical and symbolic significance of two unique rites in Aksum, Ethiopia: the anointing of kings and the Palm Sunday (Hosanna) liturgy. These rites, deeply rooted in Aksum’s ancient Christian tradition, served as vehicles for preserving memory, legitimizing power, and structuring urban society over centuries. The anointing of kings was a rare but highly symbolic ceremony, performed sporadically from the 13th to the 19th century, primarily in Aksum. Unlike coronations, this rite was optional and emphasized the divine election of the king, linking Ethiopian kingship to the biblical Davidic model. The protocol, described in the Śər’atā qʷərḥat (Regulation for the Shaving), involved twelve Aksumite dignitaries—descendants of figures said to have accompanied the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem—who performed the anointing, shaving, and blessing of the king. The rite’s archaic features and conservative nature helped perpetuate Aksum’s prestige, even as the city’s political centrality waned. The Hosanna liturgy, celebrated annually during Palm Sunday, mirrors the anointing rite. It reenacts Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, with Aksum symbolically cast as the "Ethiopian Jerusalem." The liturgy includes processions, the blessing of palm branches, and the chanting of "Qeros, meros"—a fossilized remnant of a Coptic hymn—highlighting Aksum’s ancient ties to Coptic Christianity. The rite is organized by seven elite lineages (balabbat), who preserve their privileges and social memory through this annual ceremony. Wion argues that both rites reflect a symbiotic relationship: the anointing rite, though infrequent, reinforced royal legitimacy, while the annual Hosanna liturgy ensured the continuity of Aksum’s elite and their connection to the city’s sacred past. The Book of Aksum, a compilation of texts including the Śər’atā qʷərḥat, served as a written record of these traditions, linking Aksum’s history to biblical narratives and the Solomonic dynasty. The article underscores how rites, texts, and monuments collectively preserved Aksum’s identity as a sacred and royal city, despite its marginalization in later Ethiopian history. By analyzing these rites in their historical and social contexts, Wion reveals how Aksum’s elite adapted to changing power structures while maintaining their ritual and symbolic authority.
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Cite 10.60714/cocoon.326663dd-1ba0-4e10-a663-dd1ba06e10ea Son Wion, A. (2026). 12 - Entretien à Aksum avec liqa labas Kiros Abbāy (Version 1) [Audio recording]. COCOON - https://cocoon.huma-num.fr (Huma-Num - CNRS). https://doi.org/10.60714/COCOON.326663DD-1BA0-4E10-A663-DD1BA06E10EA
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Cite 10.60714/cocoon.29fd9133-677f-45b4-bd91-33677f15b410 Son Wion, A. (2026). 06-Entretien à Aksum avec ato Walda Giorgis (Version 1) [Audio recording]. COCOON - https://cocoon.huma-num.fr (Huma-Num - CNRS). https://doi.org/10.60714/COCOON.29FD9133-677F-45B4-BD91-33677F15B410
