Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Queen of Sheba's Palace: Archaeology at Axum
Season 4
Episode 172
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the ongoing archaeological excavations at Axum, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Aksum. They discuss the discovery of what may be the palace of the Queen of Sheba—or at least a monumental building from the 10th century BCE, contemporary with the biblical figure. The conversation covers the debates between Ethiopian tradition and archaeological evidence, the site of Dungur, the role of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, and the 2023 excavations led by Dr. Tekle Hagos. They also touch on the famous obelisk of Axum, its return from Italy in 2005, and how modern archaeology is reshaping our understanding of Aksumite civilization as a global power in the Red Sea trade network.