Photography

Model Making

Design Research

Conceptual Design

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In ancient African civilization, there were three kingdoms that ruled over North-East Africa; the Aksumites, the Kushites, and the Egyptians. Located in modern-day northern Ethiopia and southern Eritrea, rested the Kingdom of Aksum. The Aksumite Empire served as a counterpoint to Greek and Roman worlds and had tremendous command over agricultural productivity and internal and external trades along the Red Sea from the 1st to the 7th century C.E. The Kingdom of Aksum was ideally located to dominate trading routes along the Red Sea. Adulis, an archeological site in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea, soon became the main port for the export of African goods, such as ivory, incense, gold, and exotic animals. In order to supply these goods, the kings of Aksum developed an inland that expanded the trading network. As a civilization Aksum had a profound impact upon the people of Egypt, southern Arabia, Europe, and Asia, all of whom were visitors to its shores, and in some cases were residents. Among these visitors, were the Greeks and Romans.

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This interactive installation showcases the interaction and understanding between ancient cultures and how these interactions influence the evolution of language. The numerical letterforms used are Hieroglyphic, Ancient Greek, and Tigrinya. Inspired by the Rosetta Stone, this installation is to be located in a rural area and made from stone.