Facts, Legends, and Holy Mysteries

Welcome to Axum, where the air is thick with history. Once the heart of the powerful Axumite Empire, this **World Heritage Site** is believed to be only 20% excavated. It is a city where legends of the Queen of Sheba meet recorded history from the first century AD.

Sacred Site

The Ark of the Covenant

According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the original **Ark of the Covenant** resides in a small chapel on the compound of Maryam Tsion. It is guarded by a single monk who, once appointed, never leaves the compound for the rest of his life.

Hidar Tsion Festival

The biggest annual festival in Axum, attracting thousands of pilgrims to celebrate the presence of the Ark.

Chapel of the Ark of the Covenant

Monolithic Marvels: The Stelae of Axum

Hundreds of monolithic stelae dot the landscape, acting as ancient grave markers. The main stelae field showcases the sheer engineering prowess of the Axumite people.

The Great Stele

Now fallen, this is one of the largest single pieces of stone (520 tonnes) ever worked on in human history.

Rome Stele

The recently returned masterpiece that stood in Rome for decades before being restored to its rightful home.

Maryam of Tsion

The most important church in Ethiopia. The compound features a 17th-century old church (**men only**) and a modern cathedral built by Haile Selassie in the 1950s.

The Mehelela Procession

Occurring the first 7 days of every Ethiopian month, this colorful morning procession sees the *Tabot* carried around the compound, evoking biblical times.