The Axum Stelae Field, also known as the Aksum Obelisks or the Northern Stelae Field, is a heritage site in the town of Axum, in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it holds a group of ancient granite obelisks dating from roughly 300 to 500 CE.
What you will see
The field's most striking feature is its height. Its tallest standing stela reaches 24 meters, and the sight of it rising above the ground gives a clear sense of the scale of the work involved. The stelae are carved from granite, and they stand as lasting marks of the ancient Axumite Empire, whose power they were raised to express.
Planning your visit
- The site is in Axum itself, so it is easy to reach as part of a visit to the town.
- It is a visit for those interested in early African history and monumental architecture.
- The site also goes by the names Aksum Obelisks and Northern Stelae Field, so you may see any of these in other guides.
- For questions before you travel, the site can be reached by phone at +251-344-752468.
Because the stelae are the centre of the visit, allow time to walk the field slowly and look at them from more than one side. Axum has other historic sites nearby, so the stelae can be one stop within a wider day of exploring the town.