Welcome to Axum |
A large open square in the center of Axum |
The Yeha Hotel has a pleasant hilltop location |
Yeha Hotel, Axum |
Yeha Hotel, Axum |
Cactus and rocky peak, Axum |
Prickly pear cactus, Axum |
Small Ethiopian Orthodox church at the base of the Yeha Hotel |
Axum, Ethiopia |
The famous Stele of Axum |
Handicraft shops, Axum |
The main road to the stele are lined with tourist shops |
Stone houses, Axum |
Stone houses, Axum |
Ethiopian post box, Axum |
Axumite Heritage Foundation and Public Library |
The old palace, Axum |
Roundabout monument, Axum |
War hero General Hayelom Araya |
Ethiopian carpets at a shop, Axum |
Flower in the garden of the Yeha Hotel, Axum |
Ethiopian beer tour, Axum |
Ethiopian beer tour, Axum |
Tour company stickers, Yeha Hotel |
New Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum, from Yeha Hotel |
Northern stele field from Yeha Hotel, Axum |
View from the Yeha Hotel, Axum |
New Church of Saint Mary of Zion, Axum |
Cactus with St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Ethiopian priest, Axum |
Obelisks of the northern stelae field, Axum |
Stele of Axum |
Stelae of Axum, ca 1800 years old |
King Ezana's Stele, 24m tall |
The recently re-erected Rome Stele, 24.6m |
King Ezana's Stele with support |
Leaning Stele of King Ezana, Axum |
Ruins of the toppled Great Stele, 33m, Axum |
The broken Great Stele of Axum, 4th Century |
This stele was taken to Rome by Mussolini |
Entrance to Axum's stelae field |
A doorway carved from a single piece of granite |
The Great Stele of Axum |
It is believed that the Great Stele toppled during erection |
The fall of the Great Stele ending the stelae building era in Axum |
The Rome Stele was returned 2005 |
The Rome Stele was re-erected in Axum in 2008 |
Sitting on the ruins of the Tomb of Nefas Mawcha, Axum |
Keith on the ruins of the Tomb of Nefas Mawcha |
Mausoleum discovered in 1974 near the Great Stele |
Keith with the Stelae of Axum |
Mausoleum near the Great Stele |
In the mausoleum near the Great Stele |
One of the 10 tomb chambers of the Mausoleum |
Mausoleum by the Great Stele |
Some of the 10 tomb chambers were left undisturbed |
Mausoleum excavated in the 1990s |
Me at the Tomb of the False Door |
Tomb of the False Door, Axum, 4th-6th Century AD |
Stairway descending ito the Tomb of the False Door, Axum |
The tomb of the false door was pillaged during antiquity |
Tomb of the False Door, Axum |
Archaologists breached a 2nd tomb behind the Tomb of the False Door |
Guide pointing out the original entrance by stairs |
4th-6th Century AD tomb, Axum |
4th-6th Century AD tomb, Axum |
The majority of Axum's stelae are undecorated |
Base of a pillar, Northern stelae field, Axum |
The fallen Great Stelae with the New Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
The fallen Great Stelae with the New Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Keith beneath the Great Stele |
Carved door, Great Stele, Axum |
Undecorated stele, Axum |
Northern Stelae Field, Axum |
The re-erexted Roman Stele |
A small, undecorated stele, Axum |
A small, undecorated stele, Axum |
Archaeological museum, Axum |
Historic photo of the Stelae field surrounded by huts |
Former directors house, Northern Stele Field |
Former directors house, Northern Stele Field |
Roughly carved granite stele, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Ethiopian baskets on sale next to the Archaeological Museum, Axum |
Speckled pigeon, Axum |
EthiopiaJan09 2898.jpg |
Ethiopian wedding, Axum |
Ethiopian wedding, Axum |
Ethiopian wedding, Axum |
Ethiopian wedding, Axum |
Ethiopian bride and groom posing for photos at the Axum stelae field |
Ethiopian bridge and groom |
Music at an Ethiopian wedding |
Stele, Axum |
Undecorated stele, Axum |
Undecorated stele, Axum |
Undecorated stele, Axum |
Northern stelae field, Axum |
The fourth decorated stele at Axum, fallen and broken |
Stele of Axum |
Simple stele, Axum |
Push harder! |
Simple undecorated stele, Axum |
Striped ground squirrel - Xerus erythropus, Ethiopia |
Our local Axum guide with the 5th decorated stele |
5th decorated stele, Axum |
It looks like it would be rather simple to reerect the 6th decorated stele |
6th decorated stele, Axum |
Only the very tip broke during the toppling of the 6th stele |
The 6th decorated stele of the northern stelae field, Axum |
A fallen undecorated stele, Axum |
Squeeeeeeze! |
The same wedding we saw earlier |
Circling the wedding car, Axum |
The wedding car is covered with a decorated white cloth |
Ethiopian bride, Axum |
Drummer at the wedding, Axum |
"Italy and Ethiopia people's will live in friendship forever" |
The plaza in front of the Stelae of Axum |
Founders of the Organization of African Unity |
Cathedral of St. Mary Tsion, Axum |
Bell tower, Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
The bell tower vaguely resembles a Stele of Axum |
New Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum, built in the 1960's |
The old chapel of the Ark of the Covenant, St. Mary of Zion |
Ornate cross on top of the new cathedral, Axum |
Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Compound of the Churches of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
The new chapel of the Ark of the Covenant where it is said the original Ark is kept |
The Guardian of the Ark of the Covenant |
The new Chapel of the Ark of the Covenant, Axum |
Stained glass windows inside the New Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
The story of the Ark of the Covenant, St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
The Crucifixion, Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Ancient Ethiopian Bible, Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Many paintings in Ethiopian churches were based on these |
St. George and the Dragon |
Pages from an ancient Ethiopian Bible said to be the basis of many of the wall paintings in churches today |
Ancient Ethiopian Bible, Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Bible written in Geetz, an ancient Ethiopian language |
Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Drums, Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Cathedral of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
New Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Old and new bell towers at the churches of St Mary of Zion, Axum |
Old and new bell towers |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, built in 1665 by Emperor Fasilidas on the ruins of Africa's first church (4th-6th Century) |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
The ever-present St. George, Old Church of St. Mary of Zion |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Door to the Holy of Holies |
Peering through a crack in the door, Old Church of St. Mary of Zion |
Religous art, Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Virgin and Child, Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Black Madonna of the Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
St. Samuel riding the Lion |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Old Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Stone on which Ethiopian Emperors were crowned |
Coronation Stone, Axum |
Coronation stone, St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Emperor of Ethiopia? |
Coronation stone, St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Western facade of the Old Church of St. Mary of Zion |
Fragment of a decorated stele, St. Mary of ZIon |
Old and new bell towers, St. Mary of ZIon |
New Cathedral of St. Mary of ZIon |
New Cathedral of St. Mary of ZIon |
Cross on top of the dome of the New Cathedral of St. Mary of ZIon |
Priest giving a blessing, St. Mary of Zion, Axum |
Speckled pigeon, St. Mary of Zion |
Bird shit! |
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, Axum |
That was apparently the only vehicle available in Axum for the 2 of us |
Ethiopian license plate - Addis Ababa (AA) |
Your tour director, Brian |
A good place for lunch in central Axum, just west of Ethiopian Airlines |
We managed to talk the guide out of taking us to the hotel for lunch |
Traditional Ethiopian food, Axum |
Chair in the form of a Stele of Axum |
Ethiopian license plate from Tigray region, TG |
Ezana Park, Axum |
Soldier and helicopter painting, Axum |
Axum is the sister city of Denver, Colorado |
The big basket is for injera bread |
Carrying an injera bread basket/table |
Bath of the Queen of Sheba, old, but not THAT old |
Bath of the Queen of Sheba, Axum |
Queen of Sheba's Baths, Axum |
Queen of Sheba's Baths, Axum |
Queen of Sheba's Baths, Axum |
Traffic in Axum |
Rugged mountains northeast of Axum |
Tombs of Kaleb and Gabra Masqual, 2 km NE of Axum |
Stairs leading to the 6th Century tombs of 2 Axumite kings |
A small lizard, Axum |
Stairs leading to the 6th Century tombs of 2 Axumite kings |
Descent to the Tomb of Gabra Masqal |
Tomb of Gabra Masqal, Axum |
Tomb of Gabra Masqal |
Storage room, Tomb of Gabra Masqal, Axum |
Small bat in the Tomb of Gabra Masqal, Axum |
Tomb of Gabra Masqal |
Stairs to the Tomb of Kaleb |
Small caravan of camels, Axum |
Ethiopian "Rosetta Stone" |
King Ezana's inscription - trilingual Greek, Ge'ez and Sabaean |
The trilingual stone dates from 330-350 AD |
King Ezana's inscription was found by a farmer in 1981 |
Axum |
Axum |
Axum |
The end of the paved road in the direction of Shire |
The guide describing Dungur Palace, Axum |
Outer wall to Dungur Palace, Axum |
Dungur Palace, a noble residence from 6th Century AD |
Dungur Palace is popularly attributed to the Queen of Sheba |
Dungur Palace, Axum, was built 1500 years after the Queen of Sheba |
Dungur Palace, Axum |
Cactus-like plant bearing fruit |
Dungur Palace, west side, Axum |
Panorama of Durgar Palace, Axum |
Dungur Palace, east side, Axum |
Dungur Palace, Axum |
Dungur Palace, Axum |
Drainage, Durgar Palace |
Old kitchen of Durgar Palace |
Doorway, Durgar Palace |
Staircase, Durgar Palace, Axum |
Dungur Palace, Axum |
Gudit Stelae Field, Axum |
Goats resting in the shade of a fallen stele |
Goats resting in the shade of a fallen stele |
Gudit Stelae Field, Axum |
Farmhouse near the granite quarry west of Axum |
Gobedra Hill, the Axum granite quarry which supplied stone for the stelae |
Farmhouse near the Axum granite quarry |
Some of the overenthousiastic child-guides live here |
Axum granite quarry |
Haystacks |
Lioness of Gobedra, 3 km west of Axum |
The age of the lioness us unknown |
Some of the "all too willing local children" referred to in the Lonely Planet guide |
Local kids at the Lioness of Gobedra, Axum |
Excavations near the granite quarry, Axum |
Granite quarry, Axum |
Granite quarry, Gobo Dura, Axum |
Granite quarry, Axum |
An unfinished stele at the quarry, Axum |
A partially cut stele, Axum granite quarry |
A partially cut stele, Axum granite quarry |
Granite quarry 3 km west of Axum |
The "all to willing local children" looking for new victims |
Leaving the granite quarry |
Keith and the remainder of the pack of kids |
Driving back from the quarry to Axum along the main road |
Main Street of Axum |
An old yellow Peugeot decorated for another wedding |
An old quarter of Axum |
Looking for the Tej house |
Donkeys headed home |
Another wedding spilled over into the streets |
Back streets of Axum |
The kids pretty much left us alone |
Old men passing time, Axum |
Tej, Ethiopian honey wine |
Keith seemed to like it but I was a bit turned off by the dead bugs in the glass... |
Keith said it was ok...he makes his own mead... |
Our guide and driver joined us at the Tej house, Axum |
Keith with the guide and driver at the Tej House in Axum |
Cactus, Axum |
Axum, well outside the tourist zone |
You have to get a ticket at St. Mary of Zion first |
Bell tower, Enda Iyesus Church |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
These paintings are rather new |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
More martyrs... |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Demon carrying a heavy burden |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
Enda Iyesus Church, Axum |
The Axumite Kingdom minted coins from the 3rd to 7th Centuries |
I'd have to guess that "Axumite Coins" for sale in a place like this are fake... |
Terrace of the Yehe Hotel for drinks with tourists from the quarry |
The mountains make for a nice sunset |
Birds at sunset from the terrace of the Yeha Hotel |
Dusk, Axum |
Going native at the Tej House |
Pouring Tej...after getting rid of the dead bugs |
Friendly Obama-loving tourists from Addis Ababa |
Traditional Ethiopian food for dinner at the Africa Hotel |
I actually did like the Ethiopian food for the most part |
Lots of Dashen Beer |
Dashen Beer, Axum |
A pub across the street from the Africa Hotel, Axum |
Cheers! |
Church of St. Pentalewon on a hilltop east of Axum |
The road leading out of Axum to the east |
Monument, Axum Airport |
Emperor Yohannis IV (1837-1889) |
Axum Yohannes IV Airport |
Axum Yohannes IV Airport, domestic terminal |
To save the tortuous 2 day drive to Lalibela we chose the 45 minute flight |
Ethiopian Airlines Fokker 50. All our flights were ontime or even early |
Keith walking to the airplane, Axum Airport |