Much of Ethiopia's fascination lies in its historical sites. It is the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa with historical remains from medieval times, the early Christian era and pre-Christian civilisations.
Ethiopians identify strongly with their history, although the traditional Ethiopian history, based firmly in the legends of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, often differs from that which academics describe. The strength of belief in these legends, and in past saints with all sorts of improbable life histories and superpowers, has played such an important role in shaping the national character though that whether ore not there is any evidence to support such stories is almost irrelevant.
