After its conversion to Christianity, early in the fourth century, Axum also emerged as an important religious center, site of the country's most important and revered Church of St Mary of Tseyon, which, according to Ethiopian tradition, is the repository of the biblical Ark of the Covenant.
Axum Tourist Attractions
All that remains now of Axum's past glories are the huge granite stelae (pillars), some fallen and some still perpendicular. Made of single blocks of granite, the tallest stood over 33 meters high - the largest monolith in the world. The biggest now standing is 26 meters high that returned from Italy All three section of the 1,700-year old Axum obelisk has arrived back and re erected in Axum, 68 years after it was looted by Italian.
The 16th century Church of St Mary of Zion Church built on the site of Ethiopia’s first church and it is a chapel of the holiest Christian sanctuary in Ethiopia,
The Grave of King Kaleb and the Grave of King Gabre Meskel, the reputed Bath of the Queen of Sheba, and a Museum are other historical attractions in the town. The ruins a few kilometers out of town to the north were once the Palace of Sheba apparently. The entrance stairs and floor plan are intact and the Palace had over 50 rooms.
and Ethiopians believe that the church houses the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tables on which Moses wrote the Ten Commandments. Menelik is reputed to have brought it to Axum, along with 12,000 Jewish children. The Chapel is constantly guarded by monks, and not even the President has sufficient authority to enter.
