Agulais a town located in northern Ethiopia. Located in theDebubawi (Southern) Zoneof theTigray Region,it lies about 32 km northeast ofMekelle,just east of theMekelle to Addis Ababa highway,and 25 km north ofQwiha.It has a latitude and longitude of13°41′30″N39°35′30″E/ 13.69167°N 39.59167°Ewith an elevation of 1,930 metres above sea level. It is one of three towns inKilte Awulaeloworeda.Nearby is astreamand a pass (elevation 2,030 metres) which share the same name. Agula was an important station on the salt caravan route fromDallolwest toAtsbi.[1]
Agula | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Agula Location within Ethiopia | |
| Coordinates:13°41′30″N39°35′30″E/ 13.69167°N 39.59167°E | |
| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Region |  Tigray |
| Zone | Misraqawi (Eastern) |
| Woreda | Kilte Awulaelo |
| Elevation | 1,930 m (6,330 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
• Total | 4,636 |
| Time zone | UTC+3(EAT) |
History
edit
16th Century
editAgula was visited by the Portuguese priestFrancisco Álvareson 13 August 1520, who called itAnguguim.He mentions in the town "a well-built church — upon very thick stone supports; very well hewn" which was dedicated to Saint Chirqos.[2]The town is mentioned again in an inquiry conducted by EmperorIyasu Iin 1698, in which he proclaimed that tolls should no longer be collected there.[3]The village was visited in 1868 by members of theNapier Expedition,who found the church in ruins; they were told that the church had been reduced to its current state by treasure-seekers acting on the orders ofDejazmachSabagadis.Based on the "limited information now recoverable",David Phillipsonassigns the construction of this church a "LateAksumiteor, perhaps, a subsequent date ".[4]
20th Century
editDemographics
editBased on figures from theCentral Statistical Agencyof Ethiopia released in 2005, Agula has an estimated total population of 4,636, of whom 2,229 are men and 2,407 are women.[5]The 1994 census reported it had a total population of 2,666 of whom 1,187 were men and 1,479 were women.
Notes
edit- ^"Local history of Ethiopia".Nordic Africa Institute.pp. Af Assa - Ajura (2005).
- ^C.F. BeckinghamandG.W.B. Huntingford(editors and translators),The Prester John of the Indies(Cambridge: Hakluyt Society, 1961), pp 176-178.
- ^G.W.B. Huntingford,The historical geography of Ethiopia from the first century AD to 1704,(Oxford University Press: 1989), p. 237
- ^Phillipson, David W(2009).Ancient Churches of Ethiopia.p. 48f.ISBN9780300141566.
- ^CSA 2005 National StatisticsArchived2006-11-23 at theWayback Machine,Table B.4