The Axum Obelisk Coming Home to Ethiopia

[DoYouEverWonder]

April 18, 2005,

AXUM, Ethiopia -- A teenage Abebe Alenayehu watched Italian soldiers haul away Axum's revered obelisk nearly seven decades ago and never thought he would live to see its return. But if the weather cooperates, he will see the dream he shares with his nation come true Tuesday when a giant cargo plane returns the monument's 82-foot top section to this wind-swept town that was the seat of the ancient Axumite Kingdom.

"The memory still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth," Abebe said about the loss of a monument that Ethiopians consider the symbol of their nation. "Every day for the last 67 years I have thought about the obelisk."

<snip>

The huge stone was raised long ago to commemorate Axumite dead, but it had broken into three pieces when it was toppled during a 16th century Muslim rebellion. After his troops overran Ethiopia, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini ordered the monument moved to Rome in 1937.

The weight of the fragments taxed the limits of military vehicles and the makeshift roads and bridges built by the Italians.

And getting it back to Ethiopia has also proved an engineering challenge.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-ethiopia-obelisk,0,4344331.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[davidinalameda]

1. but I wanted it for my living room!

damn it!

:bounce:

[Book Lover]

2. Good

Now if we can only get the "Elgin" marbles back to Greece, and Egyptian treasures back to Cairo and Thebes....

[alfredo]

3. Glad to see it returned. I have been to Axum on several occasions

it is a beautiful place.


I have photos of the Stelle, but I haven't located them. Here is the only photo I can find of Axum. the small church behind the bell tower reputedly houses the Ark of the Covenant. They used to keep the crown jewels there too. Millions of dollars of jewels and gold, and one of the greatest religious artifacts only guarded by a priest.


I have found a link with some great pictures.

http://exodus2006.com/Axumpics.htm

[ninkasi]

4. Thank you, Alfredo

for posting the picture, and filling in a little background for us. It is always a shame when a nation's cherished things are stolen. This one, at least, is going home where it belongs.

[DearAbby]

5. Yes, thank you for the background photos very interesting and beautiful

It is wonderful that the oblisk will be where it rightfully belongs.

[alfredo]

7. I love Axum, it is a very magical place.

On the bottom of page 4 the pointed mountain to the right is near the ancient city of Matara.

bottm right is the famous Monestary, Debra Damo.

Debra Damo

http://worksandwords.com/etravels/ddamo.htm


Matara was my all time favorite place.

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/atobrukh/archaeology/matara/matara.html

[KittyWampus]

6. I Read A Whole Book About How Axum Is Where The Ark Is Kept