“Inkuge z’i Kitimu” zogoga inyanja

IGICE cy’i burasirazuba bw’inyanja ya Mediterane cyakunze kurangwa n’urugomo rwo mu mazi. Dore uko byagenze mu rugomo rumwe rwabaye mu myaka ya za 500 Mbere ya Yesu. Ubwato bunini bw’intambara bwo mu gihe cy’Abaroma cyangwa Abagiriki, bwari butwawe n’abasare benshi bakoresha ingashya, bakoze imirongo itatu iteganye kuri buri ruhande rwabwo (trireme). Bagashyaga bakoresheje imbaraga zabo zose. Abasare bagera ku 170 bari bakoze imirongo itatu iteganye kuri buri ruhande rw’ubwato, bagakoresha imikaya yabo nk’abakora imyitozo ngororangingo mu gihe bagashya. Ibibuno byabo byagendaga byikuba bigana imbere n’inyuma ku dusego dukoze mu ruhu.

Ubwo bwato bwogoze mu miraba bukoresheje umuvuduko uri hagati ya kilometero 13 na 17 ku isaha, maze busatira ubwato bwarimo abanzi bwari imbere yabwo! Ubwo bwato bwarimo abanzi bwagerageje kuvuduka ngo buhunge, ariko biba iby’ubusa. Muri ako kanya igice cyabwo kiba kiri mu mazi cyabaye nk’ikigiye hejuru, maze igice gisongoye cy’imbere cya bwa bwato bubukurikiye gikoze muri bronze, gicumita muri cya gice kiba kiri mu mazi cyoroshye kiratoboka. Urusaku rutewe no gusekura ubwo bwato, urw’imbaho zisaduka, n’urw’amazi y’inyanja yinjira muri wa mwenge, rutuma abasare bo mu bwato bw’abanzi bashya ubwoba. Agatsiko k’abarwanyi bitwaje intwaro zikomeye ko muri bwa bwato buri inyuma, kirukankiye ku mpera y’ubwato bwabo kiteguye kwinaga muri bwa bwato bwagonzwe bugasa n’ububitambika imbere, kugira ngo abakagize barwanye abo banzi babo. Yemwe, amwe mu mato ya kera yari ateye ubwoba rwose!

Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bakunze gushishikazwa n’ubuhanuzi buvuga ibya “Kitimu” n’“inkuge” zaho cyangwa se amato yaho (Kubara 24:24; Daniyeli 11:30; Yesaya 23:1). None se Kitimu yari iherereye he? Ni iki se tuzi ku bihereranye n’amato yaho? Kandi se kuki  ibisubizo by’ibyo bibazo bikwiriye kugushishikaza?

Umuhanga mu by’amateka w’Umuyahudi witwaga Josèphe yise uwo mugi “Chéthima,” avuga ko wari ku kirwa cya Kupuro. Umugi wa Kition (cyangwa Citium) uherereye mu majyepfo y’i burasirazuba bw’icyo kirwa, urushaho kutwemeza ko Kitimu yari ku kirwa cya Kupuro. Kupuro yahuzaga inzira za kera z’ubucuruzi. Kuba yari iri ku nkengero z’inyanja zihuza ibyambu biherereye mu burasirazuba bw’inyanja ya Mediterane, byari biyifitiye akamaro cyane. Bitewe n’aho Kupuro iherereye, yagiye igira uruhare mu ntambara zishyamiranya ibihugu. Nanone kandi, aho Kupuro yari iri hatumaga ishobora gushyigikira igihugu kimwe cyangwa kubangamira inyungu z’ikindi mu buryo budasubirwaho.

Abanyakupuro n’inyanja

Ibyatoraguwe mu nyanja, mu mva, inyandiko za kera hamwe n’ibishushanyo byaharatuwe ku bibumbano by’icyo gihe, bidufasha kwiyumvisha uko amato yo muri Kupuro yari ateye. Abaturage bo muri Kupuro ba kera bari abahanga mu gukora amato. Ikirwa cyabo cyari gifite amashyamba y’inzitane n’ibigobe, bigatuma habaho ibyambu by’umwimerere. Ibiti byo muri ayo mashyamba byaratemwaga bikifashishwa mu gukora amato no mu gushongesha ubutare bw’umuringa bwabonekaga cyane kuri icyo kirwa bugatuma Kupuro yamamara muri iyo si ya kera.

Ubucuruzi bukomeye bwo kohereza ibintu mu mahanga bwakorerwaga muri Kupuro, bwakuruye Abanyafoyinike bituma bashinga uturere tw’ubukoroni aho inzira zabo z’ubucuruzi zanyuraga. Kamwe muri utwo turere ni Kition kari ku kirwa cya Kupuro.—Yesaya 23:10-12.

Uko bigaragara, Tiro imaze kurimbuka bamwe mu baturage bayo bahungiye i Kitimu. Birashoboka ko abakoloni b’Abanyafoyinike bari bamenyereye kugenda mu nyanja, bigishije Abanyakupuro ikoranabuhanga ry’amato. Nanone kandi, kuba umugi wa Kition wari ahantu heza mu bihereranye n’amayeri ya gisirikare, byatumaga amato y’Abanyafoyinike agira umutekano usesuye.

Bakoraga ubucuruzi mpuzamahanga buhambaye

Muri icyo gihe, ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byakorerwaga mu gace k’uburasirazuba bw’inyanja ya Mediterane byari bikubiyemo ibintu byinshi. Ibintu by’agaciro byaturukaga ku kirwa cya Kupuro byoherezwaga ku kirwa cya Kirete, icya Saridiniya, icya Sisile hamwe n’ibirwa byo mu nyanja ya Égée. Ibintu bikoze mu ibumba bimeze nk’inkono n’ibibindi byaturukaga muri Kupuro, byavumbuwe muri utwo turere kandi ibibumbano byinshi bikoze neza by’Abagiriki byaje kuvumburwa muri Kupuro. Intiti zimwe zasuzumye ibintu bikoze mu muringa byavumbuwe i Saridiniya, zemeza ko byaturukaga muri Kupuro.

 Mu mwaka wa 1982, habonetse ibisigazwa by’ubwato bwakoze impanuka mu mpera z’ikinyejana cya 14 Mbere ya Yesu, buboneka hafi y’inkengero zo mu majyepfo ya Turukiya. Gushakisha ibisigazwa byatakaye mu mazi byatumye haboneka ubutunzi bwinshi. Habonetse ibintu bikoze mu muringa abantu bemera ko byakomokaga i Kupuro, amasaro ajya gusa n’umuhondo, ibibumbano bisa n’ibibindi by’Abanyakanaani, ibintu bikoze mu biti bikomera byitwa imipingo, ibikoze mu mahembe y’inzovu, imitako y’Abanyakanaani ikoze muri zahabu no mu ifeza n’ibikonoshwa by’imitako, hamwe n’ibindi bintu byaturukaga mu Misiri. Gusuzumana ubwitonzi ibumba ryakoreshejwe mu bintu byari muri ubwo bwato, bigaragaza ko ubwo bwato bushobora kuba bwarakomokaga muri Kupuro.

Ikintu gishishikaje ni uko igihe ubwo bwato buvugwa ko bwarohamiye, ari bwo Balamu na we yerekeje ku mato y’i Kitimu igihe ‘yacaga umugani uhanura.’ Ayo mato yari ayahe (Kubara 24:15, 24)? Uko bigaragara, amato y’i Kupuro yari yaramamaye mu Burasirazuba bwo Hagati. Ese ayo mato yari ateye ate?

Amato y’ubucuruzi

Ibishushanyo by’icyitegererezo cy’amato byinshi bikoze mu ibumba, byavumbuwe mu byumba byo guhambamo byo mu mugi wa kera wa Amathus muri Kupuro. Ibyo bishushanyo by’icyitegererezo bigaragaza neza uko amato y’i Kupuro yari ateye. Bimwe muri ibyo bishushanyo biboneka mu mazu ndangamurage.

Ibyo bishushanyo by’icyitegerezo bigaragaza ko amato ya kera yari yaragenewe gukoreshwa mu bucuruzi gusa, butarimo intambara. Ubwato buto muri bwo bwatwarwaga n’abasare 20. Ubunini muri bwo bwari bugenewe gutwara ibicuruzwa n’abagenzi bakoraga ingendo zihuza inkengero z’ikirwa cya Kupuro. Umwanditsi w’umuhanga w’Umuroma witwaga Pline l’Ancien yavuze ko Abanyakupuro bari barakoze ubwato buto kandi butaremeye butwarwa n’ingashya, bwashoboraga kwikorera toni zigera kuri 90.

Hanyuma hari ubundi bwato bunini bw’ubucuruzi bumeze nka bwa bundi bwabonetse hafi y’inkombe za Turukiya. Bumwe muri bwo bwashoboraga kwikorera toni zigera kuri 450 z’imizigo mu nyanja. Bene ayo mato manini ashobora kuba yaratwarwaga n’abantu 50 bakoresha ingashya, 25 ku ruhande rumwe na 25 ku rundi ruhande. Bugomba kuba bwarareshyaga na metero 30, bufite umwenda w’ubwato ureshya na metero 10 z’ubuhagarike.

Icyo Bibiliya ihanura ku mato y’intambara y’i “Kitimu”

Yehova akoresheje umwuka we yandikishije amagambo agira ati “ariko inkuge zizaturuka ku nkombe  y’i Kitimu, zibabaze Abashuri, zibabaze n’Abeberi, maze na bo bazarimbuka” (Kubara 24:2, 24). Ese ubwo buhanuzi bwarasohoye? Ni mu buhe buryo amato y’i Kupuro yagize uruhare muri iryo sohozwa? Izo ‘nkuge zaturutse ku nkombe z’i Kitimu’ zivugwa aha, ntizari amato y’ubucuruzi yari asanzwe yogogaga inyanja ya Mediterane. Ahubwo yari amato y’intambara ateje akaga.

Uko imimerere y’intambara yagendaga ihinduka, ni ko bagendaga bahindura amato y’intambara asanzwe kugira ngo agire umuvuduko kandi akomere kurushaho. Bumwe mu bwato bw’intambara bwa kera kurusha ubundi bw’i Kupuro, bushobora kuba ari bwo bugaragazwa n’igishushanyo cy’ubwato cy’icyitegererezo gikozwe mu ibumba cyavumbuwe i Amathus. Icyo gishushanyo kigaragaza ubwato burebure bufite inyuma higondoye hareba hejuru hakongera hakigondora hareba imbere mu bwato. Ubwo bwato busa n’ubwato bw’Abanyafoyinike. Bwabaga bufite ikintu gisongoye cyo gutoboza ubundi bwato kiri ahagana imbere, hamwe n’ingabo zo kwikingira zikoze nk’uruziga kuri buri ruhande, imbere n’inyuma yabwo.

Mu Bugiriki, ikinyejana cya munani Mbere ya Yesu cyaranzwe n’umwaduko w’amato afite imirongo ibiri y’abasare bakoresha ingashya kuri buri ruhande (biremes). Bene ayo mato yabaga areshya na metero 24 z’uburebure kandi afite metero 3 z’ubugari. Mu mizo ya mbere, akamaro k’ubwo bwato kari ako gutwara ingabo, mu gihe urugamba rwabaga rubera ku butaka. Hashize igihe gito, baje kuvumbura ko ubwato bukoresha imirongo itatu y’abasare bakoresha ingashya ari bwo bwiza, kandi ikintu gisongoye cya bronze cyashyirwaga ku munwa wabwo. Izina ryabwo rikaba rifitanye isano n’uko butwarwa n’abasare bakoresha ingashya bari ku mirongo itatu kuri buri ruhande nk’uko iyi ngingo yabigaragaje igitangira. Bene ubwo bwato bwaje kwamamara cyane mu ntambara y’i Salamisi (yabaye mu wa mwaka wa 480 Mbere ya Yesu), igihe amato y’intambara y’Abagiriki yatsindaga ay’Abaperesi.

Hashize igihe, ubwo Alexandre le Grand yarwanaga yigarurira ibihugu, yerekeje mu burasirazuba amato ye ameze nk’ubwo. Ayo yari amato yakorewe intambara, ntiyari yarakorewe kugenda ingendo ndende hagati mu nyanja, kuko yari afite ahantu hato ho kubika ibintu. Ibyo byatumaga biba ngombwa guhagaraga ku birwa byo mu nyanja ya Égée, iri hagati y’u Bugiriki na Turukiya, kugira ngo bongere bafate ibyo kubatunga kandi bakanike ubwato. Intego ya Alexandre yari iyo gusenya amato y’Abaperesi. Kugira ngo abigereho ariko, yagombaga kubanza guhangana na Tiro ivugwaho kuba yari igihome gikomeye. Kugira ngo agere i Tiro yaruhukiye i Kupuro.

Abanyakupuro bashyigikiye Alexandre le Grand mu gihe cyo kugota Tiro (mu mwaka wa 332 Mbere ya Yesu), bamuha amato y’intambara 120. Abami batatu b’i Kupuro bohereje amato y’intambara yabo kurwanirira Alexandre. Bafatanyije na we kugota Tiro mu gihe cy’amezi arindwi. Tiro yarafashwe, bityo ubuhanuzi bwa Bibiliya buba burasohoye (Ezekiyeli 26:3, 4; Zekariya 9:3, 4). Kugira ngo Alexandre ashimire abo bami b’i Kupuro bamufashije, yabagabiye aho gutegeka.

Isohozwa ritangaje

Umuhanga mu by’amateka wo mu kinyejana cya mbere witwaga Strabo, yavuze ko Alexandre yayoboye amato aturutse i Kupuro n’i Foyinike kugira ngo arwanye Arabiya. Ayo mato ntiyari aremereye kandi yari yoroshye guhambura, ni yo mpamvu yageze i Tipusa mu majyaruguru ya Siriya akoresheje iminsi irindwi gusa (1 Abami 5:4). Kuva aho ugenda mu mazi werekeza i Babuloni byari byoroshye.

Ku bw’ibyo, interuro isa n’itumvikana yo muri Bibiliya yaje kugira isohozwa ritangaje nyuma y’ibinyejana icumi byakurikiyeho! Mu buryo buhuje n’amagambo yo mu Kubara 24:24, abarwanyi ba Alexandre le Grand baturutse i Makedoniya berekeza mu burasirazuba nta wubakomye imbere, maze bigarurira ubutaka bw’Abashuri, hanyuma bigarurira ubwami bw’abami bwari bukomeye icyo gihe bw’Abamedi n’Abaperesi.

Twifashishije ibisobanuro biciriritse dufite ku bihereranye n’“inkuge z’i Kitimu,” twibonera nta kwibeshya isohozwa ritangaje ry’ubuhanuzi bwa Bibiliya. Ibimenyetso nk’ibyo dukesha amateka bishimangira uburyo twemera tudashidikanya ko dushobora kwiringira ubuhanuzi buboneka muri Bibiliya. Hari ubuhanuzi bwinshi nk’ubwo buvuga ibyerekeye igihe cyacu kiri imbere, ubwo rero tuzaba dukoze neza nitubwitaho.

[Ikarita yo ku ipaji ya 16 n’iya 17]

(Niba wifuza kureba uko bimeze, reba mu Munara w’Umurinzi)

U BUTALIYANI

Saridiniya

Sisile

Inyanja ya Égée

U BUGIRIKI

Kirete

LIBIYA

TURUKIYA

KUPURO

Kition

Tiro

MISIRI

Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 16]

Uko ubwato bw’intambara bw’Abagiriki bwari buteye (trireme)

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 17]

Uko ubwato bw’intambara bw’Abanyafoyinike bwari buteye (bireme)

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 17]

Ikibindi gishushanyijeho ubwato bw’i Kupuro

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Published by permission of the Director of Antiquities and the Cyprus Museum

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 18]

Amato ya kera y’ubucuruzi, urugero nk’avugwa muri Yesaya 60:9