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Kebra Nagast: Ethiopia's Ark of the Covenant Epic
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the Kebra Nagast—the 14th-century Ethiopian epic that tells the story of the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon, and how the Ark of the Covenant came to Ethiopia. They explore the text's origins, its role in legitimizing the Solomonic dynasty under Emperor Amda Seyon, and the theological and political claims it enshrines. Along the way, they touch on Ge'ez manuscripts, the lost Ark's supposed home at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum, and why this book remains a cornerstone of Ethiopian identity and Orthodox Christianity. Specific names and concepts include: Kebra Nagast, Queen of Sheba, Menelik I, Solomonic dynasty, Amda Seyon, Aksum, Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, tabot, Ge'ez, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.