Proto-Somalis were the ancient people and ancestors of Somalis who lived in present-day Somalia.[1] Literature on proto-Somalis largely uses a time-frame pertaining to the 1st millennium BC and 1st millennium AD.[2]
History
The Puntites were ancient Cushites who are believed to have traded myrrh, spices, gold, ebony, short-horned cattle, ivory, and frankincense with neighbouring Ancient Egypt and with ancient Mesopotamia through their commercial ports. An Ancient Egyptian expedition sent to Punt by the 18th dynasty Queen Hatshepsut is recorded on the temple reliefs at Deir el-Bahari, during the reign of the Puntite King Parahu and Queen Ati.[3]
In the classical era, the Macrobians, who have been ancestral to the Automoli or ancient Somalis, established a powerful tribal kingdom that ruled large parts of modern Somalia. They were reputed for their longevity and wealth and were said to be the "tallest and handsomest of all men."[4] The Macrobians were warrior herders and seafarers. According to Herodotus' account, the Persian EmperorCambyses II, upon his conquest of Egypt (525 BC), sent ambassadors to Macrobia, bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission. The Macrobian ruler, who was elected based on his stature and beauty, replied instead with a challenge for his Persian counterpart in the form of an unstrung bow: if the Persians could manage to draw it, they would have the right to invade his country; but until then, they should thank the gods that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire.[4][5] The Macrobians were a regional power reputed for their advanced architecture and gold wealth, which was so plentiful that they shackled their prisoners in golden chains.[5] The Harla is an extinct people credited for building various monuments in the Horn Africa are possible candidates of Proto-Somali.[6]
^Abdullahi, Abdurahman (2017). Making Sense of Somali History. London. p. 47. ISBN978-1909112797.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)