The Byzantine Embassy to Himyar (c. 356 AD) and the introduction of Christianity in South Arabia

Abstract

Most modern researchers point out that a clear pattern of monotheistic religion began to appear in South Arabia since the middle of the fourth century. While these researchers count on the overwhelming influence of Judaism, they marginalize any influence of Christianity despite the presence of references in literary sources confirming the coincidence of this pattern with the first missionary embassy sent by the largest Christian empire at the time, the Byzantine Empire, to the kingdom of Himyar (c. 356 AD). These researchers are based on the absence of any explicit reference to Christianity in the epigraphic evidence. Hence, this research aims to re-approach this issue through the only source account of this mission, which was recorded by the ecclesiastical historian Philostorgius, and linking it to evidence from other literary sources, whether Byzantine or Eastern Christianity, which may support it.