Sign In

Aksum (also spelled Axum) was the capital of the ancient Aksumite Empire, located in the modern Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The empire rose from the earlier kingdom of Dʿmt and was first recorded in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, a mid-1st century AD trading manual.

From an early stage, Aksum played a central role in international trade, linking the Roman Empire and India. Its remote location spared it from direct Roman conflict or invasions from nearby powers like Egypt and Meroë.

Around AD 270, the Aksumite state began minting coins modeled on Roman currency, featuring the ruler’s bust in profile. This innovation placed coinage at the heart of Aksum’s economy and integrated its monetary system with Roman and Byzantine trade networks.

At its height, the empire controlled much of present-day Eritrea, northern Ethiopia, western Yemen, and parts of eastern Sudan. The Aksumites developed a sophisticated culture, including the Ge’ez script (or Ethiopic), a unique alphabetic system that later evolved into an abugida still in use today.

The capital city of Aksum lay at the foot of the Adwa mountains, positioned to dominate both highland and coastal territories. The name Aksum is thought to derive from Cushitic and Semitic roots—ak (“water”) and shum (“chieftain”)—highlighting the symbolic role of water in Aksumite culture.

During the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, Aksum flourished with the construction of monumental royal tombs marked by towering stelae. These intricately carved monoliths, some rising 33 metres, rivalled the obelisks of Ancient Egypt and were anchored by vast underground stone counterweights.

The city also boasted monumental architecture, including the Ta’akha Maryam, a sprawling 6th-century palace complex covering over 100,000 square metres—larger than many contemporary European palaces. To the west stood Dungur, a multi-storey 7th-century palace popularly known as the “Palace of the Queen of Sheba.” Other grand structures, such as Enda Semʿon and Enda Mikael, are described in the 15th-century Book of Aksum.

Aksum’s decline began in the 7th century, hastened by Persian control of the Red Sea trade routes, economic losses, and environmental degradation caused by over-farming and soil erosion. As international trade profits dwindled, the city’s population and influence shrank.

The empire’s final king, Dil Na’od, was overthrown by his former general, Mara Takla Haymanot, who founded the Agaw Zagwe dynasty. According to tradition, a son of Dil Na’od escaped into exile, and his descendants later restored power by toppling the Zagwe and establishing the Solomonic dynasty around AD 1270.