In Ethiopian mythology, Arwe is the serpent king who demanded human sacrifices.
Also called Wainaba, Arwe is portrayed as a giant, tyrannical snake ruler who controlled the land that would become Ethiopia. Traditional accounts say he ruled for 400 years and required sacrifices, especially virgin daughters, as well as cattle, to satisfy his hunger and preserve his power.
The myth survives in several versions. In one, a stranger kills Arwe by offering him a spotless lamb poisoned with juice from the euphorbia plant. In another, the serpent is called Wainaba and is defeated by Angabo, a legendary Ethiopian king. These versions connect Arwe’s defeat with the establishment of a new royal line and, in some traditions, with the ancestry of Makeda, the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba.
Arwe is sometimes confused with Apep, the serpent enemy of the Egyptian sun god Ra. Apep belongs to ancient Egyptian mythology; Arwe belongs to Ethiopian traditions and is specifically associated with sacrificial tribute and legendary kingship.