AKSUM

AKSUM. – A city in northern Ethiopia, situated at an altitude of 2,130 meters above sea level, with approximately 10,000 inhabitants. A very ancient population center (certainly of Agau stock), as attested by numerous Paleolithic objects, it was occupied and given its name by South Arabian colonists (Aksum = “a green garden filled with dense grass”), who made it the metropolis of their state, whose ruler assumed the title of King of A.

It is first mentioned by the *Periplus Maris Erythraei* in the 1st century AD, though it was undoubtedly older. It seems to have reached its greatest splendor in the 6th century under King Ezana. It declined with the waning of Abyssinian political power (from the 7th century onward) and the expansion of the Abyssinians no longer toward the Nile and Arabia but toward the south; it must have ceased to be the capital even before the 12th century. It suffered greatly in the 16th century from Muslim invasions (Somali and Turks) and in 1511 from a Gallan raid. Nevertheless, it remained the principal religious center of Abyssinia both for its historical memories and for its cathedral, built on an ancient pagan temple and repeatedly restored, among others by King Fasiladas (17th century); Italian restorations altered II. In the church (called Sion) dedicated to Mary, the Abyssinians believe the mosaic Ark of the Covenant is kept. The kings of Ethiopia aspired to be united there in solemn ceremonies. The local chief, rich in fiefs, often held considerable political and even military importance and bore the title of *nebran ed* (modern *nevraid*) = praepositus manuum; sometimes the kings themselves assumed this office, long reserved for ecclesiastics. The city is rich in ruins of ancient buildings and has numerous—

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