The coronation of king Esimiphaios/Abraha of the Homerites (c. 525 AD): An imitatio of the Byzantine rite or a Judaic inspired ceremony?

Abstract

When Dhu Nuwas, the Judaised ting of the Homerites (Yemenites), persecuted the Christians, the Axumite king, Caleb, invaded Yemen, defeated Dhu Nuwas, and replaced him with a Christian king. Although the main sources give the name of Abraha, this king must have been—in fact—Esimiphaios, Abraha taking power only as result of a coup against Esimiphaios. The coronation ceremony of the first king of the Homerites seems—at first view—to have followed the contemporary Byzantine model. But, a closer analysis of the sources suggests that the Judaic prototype was followed.