Axum

Axum is Ethiopia’s oldest city estimated to be 2000 years old. Long standing Ethiopian tradition holds that Axum was the capital of the Queen of Sheba in the 10 century BC. While the historical credibility of this legend is questioned the existence of a sophisticated civilization in the area is traced back to the 4^th century BC.

The ancient capital of the Axumite Empire located in the North of Ethiopia is also allegedly the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant which is said to be in Ethiopia ever since it was brought to Axum by Emperor Menelik the First, son of King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba.

The Axumite Empire is historically documented as having been a dominate power in the region the Roman Empire and the Indian Empire for more than a thousand years. The empire was a major player in trade, minting its own currency.

The most identifiable element of the Axumite legacy is the giant obelisks. It is thought that these stone towers were erected to mark graves or to represent the era’s equivalent of skyscrapers. The largest of the obelisks would have measure 33 meter if it had not fallen. The largest obelisk still standing is 23 meters high. Another obelisk taken by the Italian occupation force during the second world was returned to Ethiopia after 68 years.