Aedesius

Aedesius (Ge’ez: ‘Adesyos) (fl. early 4th century A.D.), also known as Sidrakos, was the brother of Frumentius, who introduced Christianity to Aksum around 330. Less gifted than his brother, Aedesius officiated for a time as cup-bearer, or treasurer, to Emperor ‘Ellä-‘Améda, and then assisted Frumentius in affairs of state, perhaps during the minority of Emperor ‘Ézana. Latterly he returned to his native town, Tyre, to become a priest.

A. K. Irvine

Bibliography

Rufinus, Historia ecclesiastica, I. 9, in Patrologia Latina, XXI, 478-80.

E. A. Wallis Budge, The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian Church, Vol. IV, 1164 (Synaxarium, 26 Hamlé).

This article is reproduced, with permission, from The Dictionary of Ethiopian Biography, Vol. 1 ‘From Early Times to the End of the Zagwé Dynasty c. 1270 A.D.,’ copyright © 1975, edited by Belaynesh Michael, S. Chojnacki and Richard Pankhurst, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All rights reserved.