Kebra Nagast

At a glance

History, context & interpretation

The text and its story

Tells how the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, and their son Menelik I brought the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. It was the founding story of Ethiopia's Solomonic dynasty.

Traditional attribution

Found among the books of Hagia Sophia, according to its own preface.

Historical scholarship

Compiled by Yeshaq, a churchman of Aksum, from older traditions.

Context and curiosity

The Ethiopian Church says the Ark is still kept in a chapel at Aksum.

Chronology and transmission

This text belongs to Africa (Ethiopia). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as c. 1314–1322 CE and original language or script as Ge'ez. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.

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Sources and further reading

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kebra_Nagast

Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.