Askum (a.s.a. Axum)

Quote from Wikipedia "The Kingdom of Aksum (also known as the Kingdom of Axum, or the Aksumite Empire) was an ancient kingdom in what is now northern Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ruled by the Aksumites, it existed from approximately 100 AD to 940 AD. The polity was centered in the city of Axum and grew from the proto-Aksumite Iron Age period around the 4th century BC to achieve prominence by the 1st century AD. It became a major player on the commercial route between the Roman Empire and Ancient India. The Aksumite rulers facilitated trade by minting their own Aksumite currency, with the state establishing its hegemony over the declining Kingdom of Kush. It also regularly entered the politics of the kingdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and eventually extended its rule over the region with the conquest of the Himyarite Kingdom. The Manichaei prophet Mani (died 274 AD) regarded Axum as one of the four great powers of his time, the others being Persia, Rome, and China."

Overall, the ruins by themselves were all that. In other words, they were a bit lacking. However, very little excavation has occurred.  There could be more ruins buried deep waiting to be discovered.   I don't know.

Apparently the Ark of the Covenant (two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments) is stored in the building pictured above. “Queen Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem three thousand years ago, and the son she bore him, Menelik, at age 20 visited Jerusalem, from where he brought the ark of the covenant back to Aksum. It's been in Ethiopia ever since.” 

Abba Pentalewon Monastery (outside of town)

It was a really pleasant walk to the top of the hill through the countryside. 

A group of about 3 kids provided me what they considered was a tour. Their english was poor.  Clearly their motivation was a potential tip. 

The head of the monastery stood inside the "museum" and presented me the items housed in the museum one-by-one through a window. I sat outside and watched. He didn't speak English.  In total, it was a bit humors.