Question 1

Who was Makeda and what is her mythological role in Ethiopian tradition?

Accepted Answer

Makeda, also called Bilqis in Islamic tradition, is the central figure of Ethiopia's founding myth. What you need to remember is that she is not just a legendary queen: she embodies the union between African wisdom and Abrahamic monotheism. According to the Kebra Nagast, her journey to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon and the birth of their son Menelik I established the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled until 1974. What makes her unique is that she is venerated in three religions: Ethiopian Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Question 2

What is the main work associated with Makeda and why is it so important?

Accepted Answer

The major work is the Kebra Nagast, “The Glory of the Kings,” written in Ge'ez around 1314. This text is not a simple biography: it codifies the legend of Makeda to legitimize the Ethiopian monarchy. To understand this, you must remember that the story claims Menelik brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Aksum, giving Ethiopia the status of a chosen nation. What is often forgotten is that the Kebra Nagast was still cited in the Ethiopian constitution of 1955 as the foundation of imperial legitimacy.

Question 3

What does the biblical episode of the Queen of Sheba tell us, and what is its link to Makeda?

Accepted Answer

The biblical episode, in 1 Kings 10, describes the visit of a queen of Sheba to Solomon to test him with riddles. What is striking here is that the Bible does not give her name – it is Ethiopian tradition that identifies her as Makeda. The biblical account is very brief: she arrives with camels laden with gold, spices, and precious stones, and leaves impressed. But the key to the episode is that this ancient text (written around the 6th century BCE) is the first written source to mention a powerful queen from Africa, long before the Kebra Nagast turned her into a national heroine.

Question 4

Why is Makeda's journey to Jerusalem considered a religious turning point?

Accepted Answer

This journey marks less a simple diplomatic meeting than a spiritual shift. According to the Kebra Nagast, Makeda, who worshipped the sun and idols in her kingdom of Sheba, abandoned these cults after listening to Solomon. What you need to remember is that she thus introduced monotheism to Ethiopia centuries before the official Christianization of the 4th century. Imagine that this legendary conversion makes her the first “believer” of a lineage that would lead to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest in the world.

Question 5

What symbolic objects are associated with Makeda in traditional narratives?

Accepted Answer

Several objects embody her power and role. The throne of ivory and gold described in the Kebra Nagast symbolizes her sovereignty over Sheba. The frankincense and myrrh she offers to Solomon recall that her kingdom controlled the trade routes of these precious aromatics. What distinguishes these objects is that they are not mere decorations: the royal scepter and the ceremonial golden cup were used in Sabaean rituals, while the tablets of wisdom given by Solomon represent the transmission of divine knowledge. Less jewels than attributes of power and spirituality.

Question 6

What surprising anecdote tells of the birth of Menelik I?

Accepted Answer

Ethiopian tradition recounts a tale full of cunning: Solomon, fascinated by Makeda, makes her swear to take nothing from his house without permission. During a spicy banquet, thirsty, she drinks water at night – and Solomon considers the oath broken, thus obtaining that she share his bed. What you need to remember is that this anecdote, reported by the Kebra Nagast, is not a simple love story: it establishes the legitimacy of Menelik I as the rightful heir of both kingdoms. The key to the episode is that water here becomes a diplomatic instrument that seals the union between Africa and Israel.

Question 7

Where are the key places associated with Makeda located, and what do they represent?

Accepted Answer

The main places are Aksum (Ethiopia), where the Church of Our Lady of Zion is said to house the Ark of the Covenant; Marib (Yemen), the ancient Sabaean capital; and Jerusalem, the site of the meeting. What is striking is that these sites span two continents: tradition places Makeda's kingdom in both Africa and Arabia. To understand this, you must remember that the kingdom of Sheba controlled the incense trade routes between the Horn of Africa and the Mediterranean. These places are not just backdrops: they are the archaeological and spiritual proof of a myth that has endured through the centuries.

Question 8

What do ancient texts like the Kebra Nagast or the Bible say about Makeda?

Accepted Answer

The Kebra Nagast describes her as a queen who, “having heard of the wisdom of King Solomon,” comes to Jerusalem with great wealth and abandons the worship of the sun to adore the God of Israel. The Bible (1 Kings 10) presents her more soberly: she “came to test him with riddles.” What distinguishes these sources is their time: the Bible was written around the 6th century BCE, while the Kebra Nagast dates from the 14th century CE. Yet both agree on one point: Makeda embodies wisdom and power equal to Solomon's, which is rare for a female figure in ancient texts.

Question 9

What was daily life like at the court of Makeda?

Accepted Answer

Imagine a queen who begins her day with purification rituals assisted by priestesses, then receives reports on the incense caravans. In the afternoon, she holds audience in a throne room adorned with tapestries, judging disputes and supervising trade. In the evening, musicians play the krar (Ethiopian lyre) and poets improvise riddles – an art Makeda mastered, as shown in her meeting with Solomon. What you need to remember is that her court was not a place of idle luxury: it was a nerve center where commerce, diplomacy, and culture mingled, long before the rise of the great Silk Roads.

Question 10

What are the key terms of ritual vocabulary related to Makeda?

Accepted Answer

Several terms are essential. Kebra Nagast (“The Glory of the Kings”) is the foundational text. Menelik refers to Makeda's son, ancestor of the emperors. Sheba (or Saba) is the legendary kingdom. Bilqis is her name in Islam. Ge'ez is the liturgical language of the Kebra Nagast. Ark of the Covenant is the sacred chest Menelik is said to have brought back. Frankincense and myrrh are key trade goods. Negus means “king.” Azmari is the wandering poet who transmits Makeda's epic orally. What is often forgotten is that these words are not simple definitions: they form a network of meaning that connects mythology, religion, and the history of Ethiopia.

Question 11

What contemporary historical events frame the myth of Makeda?

Accepted Answer

The myth is set around 950 BCE, at the time when the kingdom of Sheba was at its commercial peak, with the great dam of Marib and control of the incense routes. Meanwhile, King Solomon reigned in Jerusalem (c. 970–930 BCE). What is striking is that the legendary encounter coincides with the rise of two prosperous civilizations. Later, in 1270, the Solomonic dynasty was restored in Ethiopia, using the myth of Makeda as legitimacy. Less a historical event than an identity marker, the figure of Makeda has been invoked at every turning point in Ethiopian history, up to the constitution of 1955.

Makeda

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