Axum
Axum is a city in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, located in the Central Zone and in the Upper Maychew Woreda northwest of Mekelle. Axum is a popular tourist draw and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Axum’s history and ruins, including fourth-century obelisks when the Axumite Empire was at its height, allows Ethiopia to stake a claim as one of the world’s oldest centers of Christianity. Legend says it was once home to the Queen of Sheba.
Many scholars and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church agree that the Chapel of the Tablet, on the grounds of the church, is the resting place of the original Ark of the Covenant which contains Moses’ Ten Commandments. However, only the guardian of the Ark is allowed access, and even he is not allowed to see it. Replicas of the Ark are kept in every church of the sect located around Ethiopia, each dedicated to different individual saints.
Axum (also spelt Aksum) is a city of 56,000 in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, just south of Eritrea, with which it shares the language of Tigrinya. It was the center of the Axum dynasty which was established before the birth of Christ. It was for nearly 800 years the administrative center of one of the great empires of the old world along with those of Rome, Persia and China and remains the ecclesiastical capital of the Ethiopian church. It is famous for its stelae, churches, monasteries, tombs and the ruins of palaces and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.
Modern Axum is the capital of the Abyssinian province of Tigré, and nestles in a kloof, or valley, beneath a lofty peak of the Adoua mountains, at 7,545 feet above the level of the sea. Beneath it is a vast plain in which arise several streams tributary to the Nile. "The features of the place", said an early traveller, "are very marked; firstly one comes across the large sacred enclosure, nearly a mile in circumference, thickly planted with trees and reeds, in the centre of which rises the cathedral, surrounded by the monastic buildings and the residence of the Etchigeh, or bishop. This enclosure occupies nearly the whole of the entrance to the valley; beyond it on the hill slopes are the houses of the inhabitants, whilst running up the valley is the long line of stupendous obelisks and beyond is the ancient tank or reservoir from which the inhabitants still get their water supply".
The cathedral is a fine edifice, and was built in the sixteenth century during the period of Portuguese influence in Abyssinia, but on the substructure of a very ancient Christian church. It has a flat roof and battlements, and there is a corridor outside where the priests dance and sing. Around the cathedral are many large shade-trees beneath which are built smaller churches or treasuries, in which are stored valuables of all kinds. Its sacred enclosure is not only the center of ecclesiastical life, but also one of the most honoured sanctuaries in Abyssinia,
Near the cathedral is a square enclosure with a pillar at each of its angles, and in the centre twelve stones that Abyssinian tradition says were for the twelve judges of Prester John, but are probably the bases of ancient triumphal thrones of the Kings of Axum.
Situated in the highlands of northern Ethiopia, Aksum symbolizes the wealth and importance of the civilization of the ancient Aksumite kingdom, which lasted from the 1st to the 8th centuries AD. The kingdom was at the crossroads of the three continents: Africa, Arabia and the Greco-Roman World, and was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. In command of the ivory trade with Sudan, its fleets controlled the Red Sea trade through the port of Adulis and the inland routes of north eastern Africa.
The ruins of the ancient Aksumite Civilization covered a wide area in the Tigray Plateau. The most impressive monuments are the monolithic obelisks, royal tombs and the palace ruins dating to the 6th and 7th centuries AD. It is one of the cleaner and better kept Ethiopian towns with cobbled side streets and attractive flame trees providing shade in the main street. Aksum still holds many secrets in its garden of ancient stelae. Any imaginative explorer will enjoy the detailed history marked in large carved columns of stone. These stelae often act as tomb-markers, dedicated to important historical figures and momentous events. The largest of these obelisks is 33 meters tall, but sadly, is no longer standing. It is possibly the largest monolithic stele that ancient humans ever attempted to erect.
The Northern Stelae field is an archaeological wonder. The surprisingly well-preserved engraved stone columns that tower over visitors and the sense of mystery inspired by the undiscovered tombs beneath one’s feet make this a truly memorable place to visit. Many are drawn to the site by the allure of the ancient riches and cultural artifacts said to be still hidden in the many untouched tombs. It is here, in the Northern Stelae Field, where Ethiopia’s largest and most spectacular stelae are located. The field contains standing stelae from 1m to 33m high, many with ornate and impressive inscriptions and carvings. There are likely many that still remain buried.
The Great Stele is the largest of the stelae in Ethiopia. Were it still standing, it would be a towering 33m high. It has been lying broken the 4th Century when it was said to have fallen. Why it fell is still debated. Regardless, it must have been an incredible event - it collided with the massive sealing stone of a large tomb in the field and collapsed its supports in one tremendous blow that would have shaken the surrounding countryside. It is still considered to be the largest single piece of worked stone in the ancient world, with carved ibex and intricate doorways and windows. Even fallen, it is still a magnificent sight that should not be missed.
Stele 2, alternatively known as the Rome Stele and the Obelisk of Axum, is the 2nd largest stele in the field, at 24m tall. Like the other impressive obelisks here, it is carved with ornate doors and windows that display the skill and craftsmanship of the early stoneworkers of the 3rd and 4th centuries. After Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, Mussolini ordered the stele to be shipped to Rome and put on display to celebrate his “new Roman Empire.” In 1947, Italy agreed to return it to Ethiopia, but it remained in Italy until 2003, due mainly to the logistical complexity of its return. It was finally rebuilt in Ethiopia and unveiled September of 2008.
Axum Emperor Yohanes IV Airport
Axum Airport is one of the Ethiopia Airports located in Axum. Axum Airport's IATA code is AXU, while its ICAO code is HAAX. This airport is found in the Tigray Regional National State. It is located 960Km (surface distance) away from Addis Ababa, and 5.5 Km to the east of town. It became operational as of July 15, 2000 with a handling capacity of B737-700. Critical aircraft. The facility is located 5.5 km (3.4 miles) to the east of the city. Axum town is very near (close) to the historical sites: Ruins of Queen of Sheba’s palace; The catacombs of king Kaleb and his son King G/Meskel; Fallen/standing Oblisks of different sizes and heights. There are 22 flights on 5 different routes from Axum Airport, connecting AXU to 5 different cities in 1 different countries. The most popular routes connect Axum to Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Gondar, Ethiopia and Bahir Dar.
Transversal scars (trenches) made at more or less regular intervals on the Axum Airport runway were made to prevent aircraft landing. Those can (hardly) be seen from space as brownish thin lines in @sentinel_hub imagery from 22 November 2020. Forces of Ethiopia’s Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) damaged the airport in the town of Axum after federal troops gave them a three-day deadline to surrender, state-affiliated Fana broadcaster reported. Leader of Tigray rebels denies damaging airport at Axum, northwest of the main city, Mekelle, saying only obstacles were placed to block the Ethiopian army's advance. Ground truth imagery discloses small trenches have been cut across the runway, certainly large enough to make landing a hazadous proposition. Numbers large stones have also been strewn across the runway, which along with other miscelaneous other debris [tires, carts, storage cans, etc] render the runway unusable.
