The Gǝʿǝz inscriptions from Beta Samāʿti (Beta Samati)

Two recently published inscriptions from the Ethiopian site of Beta Samā῾ti, not far from Yǝḥa in Northern Ethiopia, provide further evidence to our understanding of Aksumite epigraphy. Along with the early date of its archaeological context, the two short inscriptions have interesting parallels: the first one could share a lexeme of controversial interpretation (gǝbgab/gǝbgāb) with an inscription from the cathedral of Aksum; the second one, according to the proposed hypothesis, has a peculiar parallel with the enigmatic inscribed Gǝ῾ǝz letters that are embossed on the front metal cover of the ᾿Ǝndā ᾿Abbā Garimā Gospel III.