The ancient City of Axum, Ethiopia The city of Axum became the royal capital where the wealth of the empire was used to build one of the greatest ancient cities in Africa. Merchants, ambassadors, travellers and people came and went marvelling at the city with its five-story palaces, intricate water system, gold and silver coins and its mysterious and marvelous obelisks. The glory of ancient Axum were these great monolithic stelae carved from single pieces of granite. The tallest was one hundred twenty feet, the greatest obelisk ever made and taller than any erected in Egypt. The pre-Christian centers of worship seem to represent a giant sun dial where sacrafices were made to the moon. The semicircular tops of these ancient skyscrapers may represent the moon. The original culture and language of the Kingdom of Axum was based on Sabean or Sheba. Excerpted from "ETHIOPIA-LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" by Harry R. Atkins, M.A., F.R.G.S. Reprinted by permission, all rights reserved. Continue the Tour HOME