Axum

Axum (Aksum) is Ethiopia's oldest continuously inhabited city and the legendary capital of the Aksumite Empire, which ruled over northeastern Africa and Arabia from the 1st to the 8th century AD. Contemporary with Rome and Persia, Aksum minted its own gold coins, developed the Ge'ez script, and adopted Christianity in 330 AD under King Ezana. The city's skyline is dominated by the Northern Stelae Field colossal monolithic granite obelisks carved to resemble multi story palaces, complete with false doors and windows. The largest standing obelisk reaches 24 meters, while the fallen Great Stele weighed over 500 tons, representing one of the largest single stones ever quarried in the ancient world. According to Ethiopian sacred history, Axum is also home to the original Ark of the Covenant, brought from Jerusalem by Menelik I, son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The Ark is housed in the Chapel of the Tablet next to the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, guarded for life by a single chosen monk.