Alchitrof

Much of the original collection is now lost, but it is preserved in a series of at least 280 copies made by the Italian painter Cristofano dell'Altissimo (c. 1525–1605).

[2] Lowe also suggested there may be a "mismatch" between the image and its inscription, as the clothing and jewellery are often used in reference to South America rather than Sub-Saharan Africa in Renaissance art.

[3] Alternatively, Alchitrof may not have been a king in the modern-day territory of Ethiopia, but rather that the term "Aethiopia" that is used refers to a more generalized region covering much of Sub-Saharan Africa and thus Alchitrof, if he existed, may have been king of a totally different geographical region to that of Lebna Dengel.

The modern-day region of Ethiopia was frequently called "Abyssinia" by the Europeans at the time the painting was made and the painting of Lebna Dengel specifically calls him the "Great King of the Abyssinians" instead of "Aethiopia" as used in the portrait of Alchitrof, suggesting that the original artist (or copier) deliberately chose to differentiate their regions of rule.

Dr. Emil Krén and Dr. Daniel Marx suggested that Alchitrof did not look "Ethiopian" because Aethiopia extended into modern-day Tanzania.