Abraha Builds the Cathedral of al-Qullays

Abraha al-Ashram, the Abyssinian viceroy of Yemen, constructed the magnificent cathedral of al-Qullays in Sana'a with the aim of diverting Arab pilgrimage away from the Ka'bah in Mecca. He adorned it with gold, precious stones, and ornate woodwork imported from the palace of the Queen of Sheba. When an Arab from the Kinanah tribe desecrated the cathedral, Abraha was enraged and vowed to destroy the Ka'bah, setting in motion the events that would lead to the Year of the Elephant. The cathedral's construction represented the political and religious rivalry between Abyssinian Christianity and the ancient pilgrimage traditions of Mecca.