week 7, post 1

The Kebra Negast, the Ethiopian book that retells and elaborates the biblical story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, gives special religious significance to the country in which it was written. Ethiopia is shown as having major ties to Jerusalem and the Bible- indeed, it's emperors are descended from Solomon, and are thus kin to many of the major biblical figures. Ethiopia, in this light, could be seen as another major Christian homeland- indeed, this ties into the idea of many earlier European Christians that Ethiopia was the "Lost Christian Kingdom" described in the legends of Prestor John (a symbol of the universality of Christianity). It also provides an explanation to back up Ethiopia's claim that they have the genuine Ark of the Covenant- in the story, Menyelek (the son of the Queen and Sheba and Solomon) brings the Ark back home with him after meeting his father.