By Editor 812

As Editor 000 confessed shamelessly, quTr mesrat alchelm.  Well ever since we found out that Upper Management approved QuTrology (pre-requsite Psychology 724 Feel Good Mathematicss) in the course list for How to get an M.Eng, PhD. PhADD and Doktoral In Two Weeks, ehh… let’s just say we’ve come a long way.

In exploring the relationship and role of numerology in our spiritual and cultural identity, we revisited our local (we wish) G’Izologist Professor Ayele Bekerie (to think he hasn’t put a restraining order on us… yet):

1.What are the rules of G'Iz spelling? How and what does the numerological chart reveal about the value of each fidel?

The numerical values of the Ethiopic letters have been obtained from a table prepared by Aleqa Asras Yenesew and published in his book Tebe Aksum Menu Anta? in 1959.  According to the table, the letters are arranged into seven columns and each column has a total of 26 letters.  The first column is the Ge'ez or Sunday column (Ha-ge'ez, La-Ge'ez ...Pa-Ge'ez).  The Ge'ez column letters are assigned numerical values from 1 to 800.  The first ten letters have consecutive numerical values from 1 to 10.  Then the next nine letters would have numerical values which increase by multiples of 10 (i.e. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100).  The next letter -  d-Ge'ez, is assigned a number value of 200, an increment of 100.  As a result the remaining six letters have numerical values from 300 to 800.

The same calculation applies to the Ka'eb, Sal's, Rab'e, Ham's, Sad's, and Sab'e columns.  For instance, the Ka'eb column number values are: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,200, 1,400, 1,600.

The 182 or last letter, following this procedure will have a number value of 5,600, which can also be obtained by multiplying 800 by 7. Please refer to the table for the complete presentation of the numerical values of the 182 letters.

2. Can you expound on significant numbers such as 3, 7, 44, and any other "good" and "bad" numbers?

The most famous "good" number within the Ethiopian tradition is 13, which is a number for peace.  Peace in Amahric or Ge'ez is selam, which is made up of three Ge'ez column words, slm.  The numericalvalue for these three words adds up to 13 (7+2+4).

9 may be regarded as "bad" number, for it represents the month of Ginbot or May.  As you all know, weddings aren’t held in the month of Ginbot and Adbar is celebrated during this month.  Adbar is an indigenous religion that is more ancient than any of the monotheistic religious traditions.  In the month of Ginbot, our folks resort back to a ritual that evokes the various totems of mother-nature.  This practice may be seen as an affirmation of ancestral connections, and, therefore, not that "bad".

3. Wow. Can you give us some examples of numerical divinations?

Kristos (80), Hewan (91/7=13), Sara (13), Kal or word (10), Adam (144).

4. How do you reconcile "sm'n mel'ak yaweTawal" Christian mythology versus numerological calculations of one's actual name?

The two serve different purposes.  Naming is a reflection of the totality of one's family experience and the name usually captures a page or a chapter in the family history.  Numerological calculations of a given name is instigated by the need to deal with casualties, such as illness, accident, and misfortune.

5. Can you give us a short bibliography?

1. Aleqa Asras Yenesew (1959). TEBE AKSUM MENY ANTA? Addis Ababa, Commercial Printing Press.

2. Aleqa Asras Yenesaw (1959) YEKAM METASEBIA YETIOPIA FIDEL MESERETENET METAWEKIA. Asamara: Kokebe Tsebahe Printing Press.

3. Merigetta Yetbarek Gessese Merra (1993). KINA TIBEBENA SINA TIBEB YEHAZ MEZGEBE QUTER. Addsia Ababa: Bole Printing Press.

4. Getachew Haile (2000). BAHERA HASAB YEZEMEN QOTERA QIRSACHEN KETARIK MASTAWESHA GAR.Collegeville, Minnesota.

5. Abraha (1956) HATTETA MENAFSIT WEAWDE NEGEST. Asmara: Artgraphic.

(Note: all the dates are in European calendar.)