In this episode our hosts Houston and Oban return to the land of Yemen, a land gripped by war between two powers who - by exploiting religious animosity - vie for control over the Middle East. This is not contemporary Yemen but the long ago story of Dhu Nuwas, the Jewish King of Himyar, and the tragedy of the Christians of Najran. This event has been portrayed in polemical fashion throughout the centuries. However, our hosts attempt to bring context and nuance to this often simplified chapter of the history of the Arabs. This was the story of patriots, conquerors, and martyrs. This was a time when Yemen lay at the center of a power struggle between Ethiopia, Iran and Rome. A time when Christianity, Judaism, and pagan belief fought for the soul of Arabia. Please join join us as we explore the explore the world of Yemen in the 6th century in this episode of The 1001 Arabian Knights!
