Talk:Message from Abraha, General to Caleb Hellesthaeus of Axum to Pope Symmachus

Assuming that the Pope Symmachus referenced here is the same one as in Excerpt from the Chronica of F.M.A. Cassiodorus Senator (which seems likely to me), this text is circa mid-6th century and completely non-contemporaneous with the Jewish text found deeper in the cave.

Wonder how and why the messenger ended up in this out-of-the way underwater cave...

The Christian sotne referenced here is the Black Stone of Cymbele, held by the Pope. The current (Jewish) rulers of Axum are also very interested in these two stones (the rock of the Kaaba and the Black Stone) and wish to destroy them. Also, the dating above is correct. This Abraha led an attack on Mecca with his elephant hordes in the year of Mohammed's birth, the Year of the Elephant. The elephants were defeated by the goddamn Elephant Birds vomiting up white hot stones that plagued Harald and Justinian.

Noah: This is very good. Can we get a source on this info?

Kerry: The elephant birds etc bit is commonly known history to anyone from Arabia/Ethiopia. The source on the Black Stone is an Ethiopian fellow named Aderaz, aka Skinny Legs. He and a companion have been sent on a mission by Queen Yodat to destryo these two stones.