Axum

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Ax·um

(äk′so͞om′)

See Aksum.

Axum

(ˈɑːksʊm)

(Placename) a variant spelling of Aksum

Ak•sum

or Ax•um

(ˈɑk sʊm)

n.

a town in N Ethiopia: the capital of an ancient kingdom 1st to c7th centuries b.c.

Mentioned in ?

Aksum

References in classic literature ?

Between 1768 and 1772 the Scotch traveller, Bruce, set out from Massowah, a port of Abyssinia, traversed the Tigre, visited the ruins of Axum, saw the sources of the Nile where they did not exist, and obtained no serious result.

View in context

Having visited three destinations on Ethiopian Airlines' famous Northern Circuit (the company's 'historic route service' that flies tourists to visit the world famous ancient sites at Axum, Gondar and Lalibela) it was noticeable that all the flights were completely full.

Land of history, culture & luxury: Ethiopia has identified tourism as a crucial sector in its attempt to diversify the economy and attract foreign currency earnings. Stephen Williams recently visited the country

Axum (with its port, Adulis) in northeast Ethiopia since the 4th century BC was by early 2nd century AD described as the greatest ivory market of northeast Africa.

Kenya: gunning for Leakey; In June 1993, a horrific plane crash almost ended the brilliant career of Dr Richard Leakey, one of Africa's most high-profile conservationists and world-acclaimed anthropologist. Nick Hordern sifts the evidence and asks: was it engine failure or the work of would-be assassins?

When the prophet was being persecuted for his faith in Allah, the One God, he sent some of his family to Axum, at that time the capital in northern Ethiopia.

Within the Walls - Ethiopia's Islamic City of Harar

In a dinner invitation at Mekelle's Axum hotel state president Tsegay Berhe said that the people and regional government of Tigray are proud and honored to host the Sudanese delegation.

Ethiopia, Sudan sign series of cooperation agreements

As mysterious, holy and special as the churches of Lalibela may be, Christianity's most significant artefact, the Ark of the Covenant, is said to be kept in Ethiopia's oldest city, Aksum (now spelled Axum).

Ethiopia: Africa's holy land; The only country in Africa that was never colonised, the first in Africa to adopt the Christian faith, and containing more World Heritage Sites than any other, Ethiopia has one of the richest historical heritages on the continent. Stephen Williams was a recent visitor and provides this special report for New African

Other Ethiopian airports, such as Dire Dawa, Bahar Dar, Arba Minch, Axum, Gondar have also been targeted for modernising.

Africa's most modern airport. (Countryfile: Ethiopia)

September 5, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) -- Thousands of Ethiopians on Thursday cheered the long-awaited restoration of the 1,700-year-old Axum obelisk to its original site in the country's north.

Ethiopians cheer obelisk restoration

The city of Axum has a series of seven giant stelae that date from perhaps 300 BC to 300 AD.

When we ruled

For example, why did Bruce not attempt to find the Ark of the Covenant when he was so close to Axum where the fabled artifact is said to be kept?

THE PALE ABYSSINIAN

What is certain is that by 50 BC, merchants and traders of Roman-ruled Egypt, Axum (Ethiopia), Persia, Phoenicia and southern Arabia had developed long-distance trading routes--east to India, the Far East and China as well as travelling down the African coast as far south as Tanzania and Mozambique.

East African sailor led Da Gama to India: without the help of an anonymous East African sailor, it is doubtful that Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, would have ever succeeded in 'discovering' India. Stephen Williams writes on the early history of the East African region

King Ezana built Ethiopia's first known church in the city of Axum. It was at the sire of this church, now destroyed, from which the legend of Solomon, Sheba and the Ark of the Holy Covenent sprang.