Episode
Queen of Sheba: Legend, Empire, and the Kebra Nagast
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 482
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Summary
Episode 100 of Fexingo History dives into the legendary Queen of Sheba — her historical roots in the Sabaean kingdom of Yemen, her biblical and Qur'anic appearances, and her transformation into the mother of Ethiopian kings in the 14th-century epic Kebra Nagast. Lucas and Luna explore the archaeological evidence for a real queen in the 10th century BCE, the frankincense trade that made Saba wealthy, and the political motives behind Menelik I's fictional voyage to Jerusalem. They discuss the Masoretic vs. Septuagint versions of her story, the Axumite stelae that hint at early South Arabian influence, and how Emperor Amda Seyon's scribes repurposed the Queen of Sheba to legitimize the Solomonic dynasty. Along the way, they touch on the famous 'Year of the Elephant' in Surah al-Fil, the Axumite conquest of Himyar, and why Ethiopian tradition calls her Makeda. A thoughtful look at how a biblical footnote became the cornerstone of an empire's identity. #QueenOfSheba #KebraNagast #Makeda #Solomon #MenelikI #Axum #Saba #Yemen #Ethiopia #AmdaSeyon #Ge'ez #OldTestament #Quran #Frankincense #Bible #History #FexingoHistory #EastAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo