Ouazebas

Who is Ouazebas?

Ouazebas was a King of Axum. He is primarily known through the coins that were minted during his reign.

His coins were found beneath the remains of the largest stela at the city of Axum, indicating that the Kingdom had fallen as early as his reign. S. C. Munro-Hay suggests that this particular stela was the last one erected, and that "possibly they went out of favor as Christianity spread, bringing with it new ideas about burial.

Ouazebas reintroduced on his coins a motto from the time of Ezana: TOYTOAPECHTHXWPA, meaning "May this please the people". Munro-Hay comments that this motto is "a rather attractive peculiarity of Aksumite coinage, giving a feeling of royal concern and responsibility towards the people's wishes and contentment".