Najran en Arabie - la ville des 200 martyrs chretiens

Les Chretiens de Najran sont celebres grace a leur martyrs (en novembre 523) et a leurs relations avec la principaute theocratique fondee par Muhammad a Medine en 622. Mais, jusqu'a ces dernieres annees, seule la tradition savante manuscrite, chretienne et musulmane, prouvait leur existence. Ce n'est plus le cas desormais. Depuis 2014, d'importants vestiges archeologiques, principalement des inscriptions rupestres, peuvent leur etre attribues. La nature et la distribution chronologique de ces vestiges apportent de substantielles inflexions aux connaissances sur l'histoire de ces Chretiens, encore influents au xe siecle, et sur les langues et les ecritures en usage a Najran. The Christians of Najran are known by their martyrdom (November 523), described in Christian sources. According to Muslim tradition, the community was in relation with the polity of Medina, founded by Muhammad in 622. Recent archeological discoveries attest this community in more details and bring substantial changes to our knowledge. Situated between Yemen and Medina, Najran was not only an influential Christian community persisting until the 10th century, but has seen remarkable transformations. The Christians of Najran underwent developments, some of which find an echo in the Qur?an, the earliest layer of Arabic script and the Muslim tradition.