Ethiopia: Axum – Axumite Stelae & Tombs

Axum was the capital of the ancient Axumite kingdom around 5th to 3rd century BC. The kingdom covered present day Ethiopia, Sudan, part of Egypt, and well into the Arabian peninsula. The kingdom was at the trading crossroads of the three major centers of ancient civilization: Africa, Arabia and the Roman World, and was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. Axum is world famous and is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its giant stelae (monolithic spires) erected over the tombs of its kings in 6-7th centuries AD. Each king erected a larger stelae than his predecessor; the largest being 37m (and thus the largest ever in the human civilization). It collapsed shortly after being erected, while several others are still standing to this day.
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