The Obelisk of Axum

The ancient city of Axum was founded in the 2^nd century B.C and became the Centre of the great Axumite civilization which was one of the four ancient powers of Rome, Greece and the Byzantine. The visitor to modern day Axum, now a town in the northern Ethiopian state of Tigray cannot fail to be amazed by what remains of the site of this ancient civilization. Indeed, this city has fascinated historians, archeologists and anthropologists over the centuries.

The Axumite era which covered the 1^st – 9^th centuries A.D was a time when Ethiopia’s ancient civilization reached its peak. Archaeological research has testified to the prosperity of the Axumite kingdom both in agriculture and in strong foreign trade resulting in an economy which had its own currency of gold. silver and bronze coins.

Axum is famous for its magnificent stone carved obelisks. Although there are a number of stelae in Axum there are three major ones carved in the form of multi-story houses to represent the design of the Axumite palaces. The largest of these obelisks which has fallen, measures 34 meters in length and weighs 520 tons. The second largest is 24 meters long and weighs 144-150 tons. This obelisk, carved on all four sides was taken to Rome in 1937 on the personal orders of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and has stood there for the last sixty years The third largest obelisk is 23 meters high and is still standing in Axum

These monolithic obelisks are cut out of granite which comes from a high rocky stretch of land known as Gebedera, five kilometers away from Axum. The multi-storied stelae express the economic, political, technological, architectural and philosophical development of ancient Ethiopians and are recognized by UNESCO in the world heritage list. The Ethiopian people value such treasures as part of their rich historical inheritance. They recognize that a country gains its identity from the peoples it embraces and their diverse cultures, customs and traditions.

For this reason, the Ethiopian people have persevered in seeking for the return of the great Axum Obelisk from Rome to its rightful place in Ethiopia. The Peace Treaty of 1947 placed a commitment on the Italian Government to return the obelisk, and fifty years later in April 1997 an agreement between the Italian and Ethiopian governments confirmed that the obelisk would be returned.

The campaign for the restitution of the obelisk has been championed by Ethiopian and international individuals, scholars, institutions, organizations and the local people. This commitment has shown the significance of the Obelisk to the Ethiopian people and a desire to consolidate a new chapter of friendship and co-operation between Ethiopia and Italy.

A National Co-ordinating Committee has been established in Ethiopia to work with Italian counterparts to facilitate the return of the Obelisk. The aims of the National Coordinating Committee are, in addition to facilitating the speedy return of the Obelisk, to promote awareness and understanding of the historical and cultural significance of the heritage of the Ethiopian people and to commemorate the occasion in a way that shows the value of culture to Ethiopia.