Where is Axum located?

Axum is located in the northeast area of what is now Ethiopia. It was a flourishing city from 100 B.C.E. to 650 C.E and was known for its monumental obelisks. It sat high on a plateau and overlooked the Red Sea.

Located by the Red Sea, Axum was a major hub for international trade, and the city's merchants became wealthy from trading ivory, animal skins and gold. Axum created its own currency and was the first city in Africa to manufacture its own coins. Axum is considered a holy city by the Ethiopian Orthodox church and is a center for Christianity in Africa.