 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 |