Original Authors: Various, compiled by Ethiopian scholars
Date Written: 14th century CE
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Description
The Kebra Nagast is a medieval Ethiopian work composed in Geʽez, traditionally dated to the 14th century. It presents a narrative linking the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia to the biblical lineage of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, combining royal chronicle, theological interpretation, and cultural tradition. The text draws on earlier oral histories, religious writings, and regional narratives to describe the origins of Ethiopia’s kingship, the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant, and the establishment of a sacred national identity.
Preserved through manuscript transmission within the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, the Kebra Nagast has played a central role in shaping Ethiopian historical consciousness and religious thought. Its themes include divine kingship, covenant theology, ancestral lineage, and the relationship between Ethiopia and the ancient Near East. The work remains one of the most significant literary and religious texts in Ethiopian history.
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The Kebra Nagast (The Glory of the Kings)
Translator: Sir E. A. Wallis Budge
Summary: A foundational English translation based on multiple Geʽez manuscripts, including Budge’s commentary and comparative notes. This edition is widely used in academic and historical studies and remains the most accessible public-domain version.
Published: 1922
