King Ezana's Stele

King Ezana's Stele is a 4th century obelisk in the ancient city of Axum, in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia [1]. The monument stands in the middle of the Northern Stelae Park, which contains hundreds of smaller and less decorated stelae [1]. This stele is probably the last one erected and the largest of those that remain unbroken [1]. King Ezana of Axum's Stele stands 21 m tall [1]. It is decorated with a false door at its base and apertures resembling windows on all sides [1]. The stelae are thought to be "markers" for underground burial chambers [1]. The largest grave markers were for royal burial chambers and were decorated with multi-story false windows and false doors; nobility would have smaller, less decorated stelae [1]. King Ezana's Stele is likely to be the last example of this practice, which was abandoned after the Axumites adopted Christianity under King Ezana [1].