Israel of Axum

Israel (vocalized ʾIsrāʾēl or ይስራኤል Yisrāʾēl, c. 590) was a king of Axum. He is primarily known through the coins minted during his reign. He is one of several Aksumite kings with a Biblical name, the others include Ioel, Kaleb, Gersem, and likely Noe; Richard Pankhurst mentions the name of this king as an early example of Judaic influence in Ethiopian culture.

The Kebra Nagast and Ethiopian historical tradition states that Kaleb had two sons, Israel and Gabra Masqal. One tradition claims that Israel was governor of Adwa during his father's reign, but otherwise the Ethiopian chronicles tell little else about him.

Coins

Two types of coins have been dated to Israel's reign, one in gold, the other in copper. Wolfgang Hahn notes that his coinage "would be very rare were it not for the 34 pieces which made up the Adulis hoard of 1907 and which are closely die-related".