Mythologis
The Ethiopian Mythology Book: The Queen of Sheba, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Sacred Legends of Aksum

Ethiopian Mythology

The Ethiopian Mythology Book: The Queen of Sheba, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Sacred Legends of Aksum

The Queen of Sheba, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Kingdom of Aksum

The sacred legends of Ethiopia, the one African kingdom never conquered: the Queen of Sheba and her journey to King Solomon, the Ark of the Covenant said to rest at Aksum, Waaqa the sky-god of the Oromo, and the saint-kings who carved the churches of Lalibela. Drawn from the Kebra Nagast and the living oral tradition.

160 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Inline citations to the Kebra Nagast and the chronicles
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The Roof of Africa: A Kingdom Apart
  2. 02Waaqa and the Old Sky-Religion of the Oromo
  3. 03The Cushitic Gods and the Spirits of the Land
  4. 04Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, and King Solomon
  5. 05Menelik and the Coming of the Ark of the Covenant
  6. 06The Kebra Nagast: The Glory of the Kings
  7. 07Aksum: The Obelisks and the Lion of Judah
  8. 08The Zar Spirits and the Rite of Possession
  9. 09The Buda, the Evil Eye, and the Werehyena
  10. 10The Saint-Kings and the Rock Churches of Lalibela
  11. 11Beta Israel and the Living Traditions of Ethiopia

About this book

About this Ethiopian mythology guide

The sacred legends of the one African kingdom never conquered: the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, the Ark of the Covenant at Aksum, and the old sky-god of the Oromo.

Ethiopia stands apart. It kept its own script, its own church, and its own line of kings for two thousand years; it was the one African nation never truly conquered. Out of that long independence came a body of legend unlike any other on the continent, where the Hebrew Bible, the old Cushitic gods, and the Christian saints all meet.

At its heart is the Queen of Sheba, called Makeda, who journeyed north to test the wisdom of King Solomon and returned carrying his son, Menelik. From that union, the Kebra Nagast says, came the Solomonic dynasty and the Ark of the Covenant itself, carried in secret to Aksum, where Ethiopians say it rests to this day. Around that royal legend turn the older stories: Waaqa, the sky-god of the Oromo; the zar spirits and the spells against the evil eye; and the warrior-saints and rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

This book gathers them all, drawn from the Kebra Nagast, the chronicles of the kings, and the oral tradition, with every chapter citing its sources.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, and her journey to the court of King Solomon
  • How the Kebra Nagast says the Ark of the Covenant came to rest at Aksum
  • Waaqa, the sky-god of the Oromo, and the old religion before the church
  • The zar spirits, the evil eye, and the folklore of the Ethiopian highlands
  • The saint-kings who carved whole churches out of the living rock at Lalibela
  • Why the Lion of Judah crowned Ethiopian kings into the twentieth century

Ethiopian mythology book at a glance

TraditionEthiopian mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length160 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Keep exploring Ethiopian mythology

Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.

Read the complete Ethiopian mythology guide

Questions about the Ethiopian mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is this book respectful of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, a living faith?

Yes. Much of this tradition belongs to the living Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and to peoples who still hold these beliefs. The book treats the Solomonic legend, the Ark, and the saints with respect, presents them as Ethiopians themselves tell them, and keeps the older Oromo and Cushitic traditions on their own terms rather than reducing them to curiosities.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It draws above all on the Kebra Nagast (the Glory of the Kings), the royal chronicles of the Ethiopian kings, and recorded Oromo and Cushitic oral tradition, with references to the standard translations.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 160 pages depending on the final layout. Designed to be read in evenings or in one long sitting.

Is this book for beginners or specialists?

Beginners welcome. The book explains every name, place, and concept from scratch. Specialists will find the source citations useful for further reading.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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