Episode
Emperor Ezana: Aksum's Christian Conversion and the Triumphal Stele
- Published
- Jul 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 353
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Summary
Before Lalibela's rock-hewn churches and before Zara Yaqob's religious reforms, there was Ezana — the Aksumite emperor who made Christianity the state religion in the 4th century. This episode explores Ezana's conversion under the influence of his tutor Frumentius, the trilingual Ezana Stone that records his victories in Ge'ez, Sabaean, and Greek, and the political and cultural shifts that followed. We also look at the mysterious King Kaleb and his Himyarite campaign, the construction of the great stelae at Aksum, and how Ezana's coins — minted with crosses — became a tool of propaganda. Lucas and Luna discuss how Ethiopia's unique Christian identity took shape centuries before Europe's conversion, and why Aksum's legacy remains a touchstone for Ethiopian Orthodoxy today. #Ezana #Aksum #Frumentius #EzanaStone #Kaleb #Himyar #Ge'ez #Sabaean #AksumiteEmpire #ChristianityInAfrica #EthiopianOrthodox #Stelae #Coins #4thCentury #EastAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #AncientEmpires Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo