September 4: Restored Obelisk of Aksum Unveiled (2008)
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Ethiopia.
A blue circle shows the location of the ancient city of Aksum in northern Ethiopia. Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.
History Note
The ancient kingdom of Aksum (also spelled Axum) was centered in what is now Ethiopia. The book of Acts, chapter 8, tells about a man from Ethiopia who heard the good news about Jesus and became a Christian. In the 4th century AD, the king of Aksum, Ezana I, became a believer and helped to spread Christianity in his kingdom.
Remnants of Aksum include churches, royal tombs, and a palace. The Aksumites also erected tall pillars called obelisks, which feature carvings. The tallest standing one is over 75 feet tall.
After Italy invaded Ethiopia in the 1930s, the Italians took one of the obelisks back to Italy. Workers cut it into pieces and carried it by truck and ship to Rome, where it was put on display. In 1947 Italy acknowledged a United Nations directive to return looted objects to Ethiopia. However, because of the great difficulty in moving the obelisk, the Italian government failed to do anything for decades.
Finally in 2005 the pieces of the obelisk were flown back to Ethiopia. After site preparation and restoration work, the rebuilt obelisk was finally unveiled in a ceremony on September 4, 2008.
This photo shows several of the obelisks of Aksum. Photo by Tewodros Hailemichael / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This video highlights the process of returning and rebuilding the obelisk.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
