Aksum's Stelae and the Christian Imperium: Ezana's Reimagining of Divine Kingship

This paper explores the profound transformation of divine kingship in the ancient Aksumite kingdom, specifically through the reign of King Ezana in the 4th century CE. Prior to Ezana's conversion, Aksumite monumental stelae stood as powerful symbols of a polytheistic royal ideology, embodying an indigenous understanding of the ruler's connection to the divine. Ezana's adoption of Christianity, a pivotal moment in Aksumite history, did not merely introduce a new religion but fundamentally redefined the very essence of royal authority and imperial legitimacy. We argue that Ezana consciously reimagined the concept of divine kingship, shifting its foundation from traditional Aksumite deities to the Christian God, thereby establishing a novel "Christian imperium." This transformation is vividly reflected in his royal inscriptions, which transitioned from invocations of solar and indigenous gods to explicit Christian monotheism, and implicitly in the evolving significance of the monumental stelae. While the grand stelae ceased to be erected in the same manner post-conversion, their enduring presence served as a backdrop against which new Christian symbols and narratives of power were projected, demonstrating a strategic appropriation and reinterpretation of existing monumental heritage to legitimize the new Christian state. Through an interdisciplinary analysis of archaeological evidence, epigraphic records, and comparative historical contexts, this study illuminates how Ezana utilized a new religious framework to consolidate power, project a universalizing imperial vision, and leave an indelible mark on Aksumite identity and its lasting legacy in early Ethiopian Christianity.