The aksum obelisk was taken by the italian army from aksum, ethiopia, at the orders of mussolini after the italians managed to haul it away while poisoning ethiopians with poison gas during world war ii. Ethiopia, tanzania, zimbabwe, mali 2 nubia in the region of the upper nile and axum in ethiopia stelae nubia and axum were coptic christians by 400 ce nubia keep its independence from islamic rule by supplying. Tullio scovazzi the return of the axum obelisk the recent. The kingdom of aksum or axum, also known as the aksumite empire, was a trading nation in the area of eritrea and northern ethiopia, which existed from approximately 100 to 940 ad. It is not necessary in this article, destined for the ethiopian public, to explain how one of the largest axum obelisks ended up in rome.
The obelisk, which weighs more than 150 tonnes, had to be cut up into three pieces to be taken to ethiopia. The obelisk of axum is one of the most sacred artifacts in ethiopian history. Aksum travel northern ethiopia, ethiopia lonely planet. Though the exact date of its founding is not known, it is known that the queen of sheba, who reigned around b. There are also speculations that axum is the home of the ark of the covenant. Situated in the highlands of northern ethiopia, aksum symbolizes the wealth and importance of the civilization of the ancient aksumite kingdom, also known as the aksumite empire, which was a trading nation in the area of eritrea. However, for many people in ethiopia, the return of the. The obelisk of axum is a 1,700yearold, 24metres 78foot tall granite steleobelisk, weighing 160 tonnes, in the city of axum in ethiopia. By the way, we must remember that they also created their own alphabet, too. The return of the axum obelisk the recent story of the axum obelisk the obelisk of axum, ethiopia, was removed by italy in 1937 after the illegal aggression and annexation of ethiopia 1936. Aksum is located on a plateau in the far north of ethiopia near the eritrean border.
The main towering obelisk of axum is believed to be 1,700yearold. It lies about 150 km south of asmara and a similar distance from the red sea coast. In fact, axum, ethiopia stelae field is a unesco world heritage site. Before doing so, in this article, it may be convenient to recall the background to ato gabrus dramatic proposal. But if the weather cooperates, he will see the dream he shares with his nation come true tuesday when a giant cargo plane returns the monuments 82foot top section to. Aksum is one of philadelphias favorite byob restaurants. The other stelae were modeled on it and marked burial chambers, but the obelisk of axum is the earthly pillar that serves as a foundation for the wall behind which the fabled prisoner of glaaki was imprisoned. It is decorated with two false doors at the base, and decorations resembling windows on all sides. It lies at an elevation of about 7,000 feet 2,100 metres, just west of adwa. Obelisk of axum is a granite obelisk, also known as stelae, which is some 1,700 years old, located in the city of axum, in the federal democratic republic of ethiopia.
The obelisk of axum which is found in ethiopias cradle of civilization is ethiopias national treasure, a symbol of our unity, strength and courage that possesses remarkable significance. The obelisk of axum in ethiopia s tigray region 2009. Located in the thriving baltimore avenue corridor in vibrant and diverse university city, the yearold restaurant features a bright mediterranean menu that focuses on simple and fresh ingredients, with. Once the seat of the kingdom of aksum, it is now a tourist town and religious centre best known for its antiquities. This proposal, by the head of the region concerned, deserves serious consideration. The return in april of the 1,700yearold axum obelisk to ethiopia, after more than a halfcentury of negotiation and broken promises, is a boost to national pride and adds to the momentum toward the repatriation of colonial cultural spoils. Though, the 1947 peace treaty sets obligations for the return of the obelisk to its origin, the interest demonstrated and measure taken by the italian government to return the obelisk is a corner stone for the mutual cooperation between the governments and the peoples of both countries. A resting place of kings and queens dating back to biblical times, the reign of the mysterious queen sheba, and the alleged resting place of the ark of the covenant. Axum ethiopia and the ark of the covenant ancient history. The obelisk of axum today, especially in axum, also called the rome stele is a 1,700yearold, 24metres 78foot tall granite stele obelisk, weighing 160 tonnes.
Sacred sites of ethiopia and the arc of the covenant. Ethiopia goldenbacked woodpecker 1998 5 c10 c15 20 25 c30 c35 40 45 c50 c55 60 65 c70 c75 80. Axum, ethiopia a teenage abebe alenayehu watched italian soldiers haul away axums revered obelisk nearly seven decades ago and never thought he would live to see its return. The obelisk ends in a semicircular top part, which used to be enclosed by metal frames. This is the stele which the italians stole in 1937. Agreement for return of axum obelisk from italy 1998 45 c 55 c 3 b. Does the ark of the covenant that holds moses 10 commandments reside in a small aksum chapel. The most famous stela is the obelisk of axum a 1,700yearold, 24metretall obelisk, which was take by the italians in 1937 during the occupation and returned to axum in 2005 and reerected in 2008. Ethiopia indigenous wildlife 1989 30 c40 c50 85 african development bank, 25th anniversary. The axum obelisk, a symbol of ethiopias identity, was looted by troops in 1937 during italys brief occupation of abyssinia. The italian army took the obelisk from ethiopia to italy in 1937. The axum obelisk in rome a personal view ethiopia online.
It was erected in rome in front of the building of the ministry of colonies now the fao building. One obelisk, removed from the site and taken to rome as a war trophy during the italian occupation, was returned to aksum in 2005 and reerected in in 2008. The axum obelisk is a testament to ethiopias historic civilization. The obelisk, properly termed stele or the native hawilthawilti as they do not end in a pyramid, was carved and. Axum ethiopia and the ark of the covenant ancient history jul 30, 2019.
Axum was also rumoured to be the home of the ark of the covenant. The first piece of a huge 1,700yearold granite obelisk was returned home from italy to ethiopia yesterday, 68 years after it was looted by the troops of the fascist italian dictator benito. Furthermore, at the time of inscription, it was noted that small, modern houses were built over most of the site, obscuring the majority of the underground aksumite structures. Ethiopia had existed from around 3000 years bc and prior to the ancient egyptian dynasties was the kingdom of taseti, out of which emerged early. The reerection of the great aksum obelisk considered. The axum obelisk is regarded as one of ethiopias national religious treasures.
The amazing megalithic obelisks of axum in ethiopia. This journey includes addis ababa, bahir dar, gondar, axum, lalibela, shashamene and hawassa. The obelisk was on the ground broken into five fragments. Axum is located in ethiopia, using iata code axu, and icao code haax.
An antonov plane landed on tuesday with the middle part of the obelisk. The obelisk that dates back to the 4th century is twenty four meters high. Italy returned the 1,700yearold monument in 2005, after decades of negotiations between the two countries. A symbol of our unity, strength and courage, the oblique. Sutherland the kingdom of aksum axum also widely known as the aksumite empire, was an ancient civilization, which developed in one of the oldest continuously inhabited parts of the world ethiopia, to which ancient references can be found in the famous works of homer and herodotus. Bomani in ethiopia on an incredible 7 city tour may 714, 2017. The city of aksum emerged several centuries before the birth of christ, as the capital of a state that traded with ancient greece, egypt and asia. Obelisk returned to ethiopia after 68 years world news. The city of axum was the ancient political and religious capital of ethiopia.
A further 10 3 m of its height remains buried below ground, bringing the megaliths total length to. Tall granite obelisks, 126 inches all, stand or lie broken. Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from about. Moving the axum obelisk the axum obelisk, which has adorned a roman piazza for the last 67 years, is waiting to be shipped back to ethiopia. Ethiopia pm in tigray region, joins efforts to save axum. The stele of axum tigray, northern ethiopia ashtronort. Though the exact date of its founding is unknown, it is known that the queen of sheba, who reigned around bc had axum as her royal capital. A further 10 3 m of its height remains buried below ground, bringing the megaliths total length to 89 27 m. Axum is a place of legend in ancient ethiopian culture.
Obelisk of axum wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Peoples democratic republic of ethiopia, second anniversary 1989 15 c 75 c 1 b. Mysterious megalithic towering obelisks in ethiopia. The enormous obelisks in aksum, ethiopia are much bigger than the famous obelisks in egypt. With its fleets sailing as far afield as ceylon, aksum later became the most. The obelisk of axum in ethiopias tigray region 2009. The reerection of the great fallen aksum obelisk, as reported in last weeks addis tribune, has recently been requested in his official capacity by ato gabru asrat, president of tigray.
Axum was the ancient political and religious capital of ethiopia. However, one of their most prominent achievements is the creation of magnificent and gigantic obelisks honoring the kingdoms emperors. But it also reveals that many ethnic tensions remain unhealed in modern ethiopia. It is ornamented with two false doors at the base and features decorations resembling windows on all sides. Beneath its base are a number of tombs, a maze of tunnels, and buried stairwells and shafts. Did the queen of sheba really call the towns dusty streets home. Fossil remains the famous lucy discovered in northeastern ethiopia have been dated to roughly 3. Seldom visited by foreign tourists over the past few decades due to its continuing political problems, ethiopia is most well known as being the possible cradle of humankind. Considering the size of the obelisk of axum, it is truly amazing that it was transported between continents twice during the last 100 years. The obelisk of axum in ethiopias tigray may 2017 tour.
124 1536 1174 897 1069 197 1218 1269 1491 334 888 136 221 881 981 514 235 707 1488 95 1501 539 281 1152 305 122 1136 512 364 1413 159 518 339 71 594 629 239