The ancient city of Axum, which dates to about 100 B.C., was the first place in Ethiopia to adopt a new religion Christianity and birth place of Ethiopian civilization. It was also home to the Queen of Sheba whose ruined palace and bathing pool can still be found in and near the town.
Axum is famous for the world’s tallest monoliths, or obelisks, carved from single pieces of rock. Some experts believe they were erected to mark the passing of some ancient royal personages; others say that they had an astronomical function. The largest obelisk, measuring over33 meters, fell long ago and now lies in pieces. Another, 24 meters high, which was in Rome, was returned to Ethiopia in April 2005 and the re-erection process was finalized in September 04, 2008. A third, 23 meters high, remains standing. All three of these stale (obelisks) were neatly carved with ‘doors’ and ‘windows’ to give the appearance of very tall buildings.
