The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia's northern border. They mark the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The massive ruins, dating from between the 1st and the 13th century A.D., include monolithic obelisks, giant stelae, royal tombs and the ruins of ancient castles. Long after its political decline in the 10th century, Ethiopian emperors continued to be crowned in Aksum.

The obelisk -- properly termed a 'stele' or, in the local Afro-Asiatic languages, hawilt/hawilti (as it is not topped by a pyramid) -- is found along with many other stelae in the city of Axum in modern-day Ethiopia. The stelae were probably carved and erected during the 4th century A.D. by subjects of the Kingdom of Aksum, an ancient Ethiopian civilization. Erection of stelae in Axum was a very old practice (today it is still possible to see primitive roughly carved stelae near more elaborated "obelisks"), probably borrowed from the Kushitic kingdom of Meroe. Their function is supposed to be that of "markers" for underground burial chambers. The largest of the grave markers were for royal burial chambers and were decorated with multi-story false windows and false doors, while nobility would have smaller, less decorated ones. While there are only a few large ones standing, there are hundreds of smaller ones in various "stelae fields". The last stele erected in Axum was probably the so-called King Ezana's Stele, in the 4th century A.D.

The Obelisk of Axum in Rome in 2002, before its repatriation.

King Ezana (c.321 – c. 360), influenced by his childhood tutor Frumentius, introduced Christianity to Axum, precluding the pagan practice of erecting burial stelae (it seems that at the feet of each obelisk, together with the grave, there was also a sacrificial altar).

Over the course of time, many of these stelae fell to the ground[2] due to: structural collapse (as, probably, in the case of the Great Stele, measuring 33 m), possibly immediately after their erection; earthquakes (Axum is in a seismic zone); or the military incursions of the Imam Ahmad Gragn during the Ethiopian-Adal War from 1529-43. In the 19th century, of the three major "royal" stelae, only King Ezana's Stele remained erected, shown in the painting "Sight of Axum" of Henry Salt (1780–1827).

The Obelisk of Axum, was itself collapsed and broken when it was found by Italian soldiers at the end of 1935, following the Italian conquest of Ethiopia. It had fallen in the 4th century and had broken into five pieces.[3] In 1937, it was taken as war booty and moved to Italy by the Fascist regime, which wanted to commemorate the conquest of Ethiopia and the birth of the ephemeral "new Roman Empire" (see Italian Empire). The stele which were transported by truck along the tortuous route between Axum and the port of Massawa, taking five trips over a period of two months. It arrived via ship in Naples (on a boat called the Adua), on March 27, 1937. It was then transported to Rome, where it was reassembled and erected on Porta Capena square in front of the Ministry for Italian Africa (later the headquarters of the United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organization) and the Circus Maximus. It was officially unveiled on October 28 1937 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the March on Rome.[4] The operation was coordinated by Ugo Monneret de Villard.

Overview

Ethiopia is the ninth largest country in Africa and is located in the northeastern region, popularly referred to as the Horn of Africa. As a landlocked country, Ethiopia is bound to the east by Djibouti and Somalia, to the north and northeast by Eritrea, to the south by Kenya and to the west by the Sudan.  The total land area is 440,284 miles (1.1 million square kilometers).  There are ten major rivers (7000 km long) and lakes (7400 sq. km. in area).

Physical Features      

Ethiopia is a country of great geographical diversity. Located within the tropics, its physical conditions and variations in altitude have resulted in great range of terrain, climate, soil, flora and fauna.  Ethiopia has high and rugged mountains, flat-topped plateau called "Ambas," deep gorges, incised river valleys and vast rolling plains. Its altitude ranges from the highest peak at Ras Dashen (4620 meters above sea level) down to the Dalol (also known as the Danakil) depression, approximately 148 meters below sea level.

The major features of Ethiopia's landscape are lines of great escarpments overlooking the Afar plains and along its western borderlands, as well as great massifs.   From lush plains and mountains to arid expanses, much of Ethiopia is dissected by tributaries to well known rivers including Abay (The Blue Nile), Tekeze, Awash, Omo, the Wabe Shebellie and Baro-Akobo.

Resulting from an extensive fault that cracked the old crystalline block of the African continent along the eastern side, Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley stretches from the eastern end of the Mediterranean Basin down to Mozambique in the southeastern part Africa. The Great Rift Valley system separates the western highlands and the southeastern highlands. On each side the highlands, the Rift Valley system give way to vast semi-arid lowland area in the east, west and especially the south.

Climate

Ethiopian climate varies according to the different topographical regions. The central plateau has a moderate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation. The mean minimum during the coldest season is 6°C (43°F), while the mean maximum rarely exceeds 26°C (79°F). Temperature variations in the lowlands are much greater, and the heat in the desert and Red Sea coastal areas is extreme, with occasional highs of 60°C (140°F). Heavy rainfall occurs in most of the country during June, July and August. The High Plateau also experiences a second, though much milder, rainy season between December and February. Average annual precipitation on the central plateau is roughly 122 cm (48 in). The northern provinces receive less rainfall, and the average annual precipitation in the Ogaden is less than 10 cm (4 in). The westernmost region of Ethiopia receives an annual rainfall of nearly 200 cm (80 in). Severe droughts affected the country in 1982–84,1987–88, and 1991.  

The Ethiopian Calendar

While much of the world marks the passing of days according to the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia has its own calendar, which is also known as the Ge'ez Calendar. Based upon the ancient Coptic Calendar, the Ethiopian Calendar is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar, owing to alternate calculations in determining the date of the annunciation of the birth of Jesus.

The Ethiopian Calendar has 12 months of 30 days each, plus five or six additional days (sometimes known as the 13th month), which are added at the end of the year to match the calendar to the solar cycle.

The year is currently 2000, according to the Ethiopian Calendar. Ethiopia celebrated the millennium at midnight on September 12, 2007. The year 2001 began in Ethiopia on September 11, 2008 of the Gregorian Calendar.

Ethiopian Time

The time in Ethiopia is eight hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States except during Daylight Savings Time in the United States, during which Ethiopian time is seven hours ahead.

Currency

The local currency is the Ethiopia Birr, made up of 100 cents. Visitors may import an unlimited amount of foreign currency, provided that declaration of such currency is made to Customs on arrival. Foreign currency may only be changed at authorized banks and hotels. The currency declaration form must be retained as this will be required by Customs on departure. Visitors will be able to change back any excess Ethiopian Birr to foreign currency in the airport before departure.

Language

Ethiopia is a land of enormous diversity and as a result Ethiopia has more than 80 languages and over 200 dialects. Amharic or Amharigna is the official language of Ethiopia although the government encourages local languages to be taught in schools. The working languages of the national/regional governments may differ according to regions. Other main languages include Oromigna and Tigrigna. English, French, Italian and Arabic are also widely spoken.

Religion

Ethiopian culture and tradition have been much influenced by both Christian and Muslim religions. The Amharas and Tigreans are predominantly Christian and adhere to the Orthodox church. The Oromos, the largest ethnic group are more mixed, with Christian and Muslim communities, as well as communities who adhere to local traditions.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the largest religious group (45%), followed by Sunni Muslims (35%) and those with traditional beliefs (11%). An additional 9% are listed as ‘others'. Catholicism and Ethiopian evangelism (Mekane Yesus) are also other religions in Ethiopia.

Religion has always been a major influence in Ethiopia and no other sub-Saharan country in Africa can trace its origins as far back. Ethiopia is mentioned many times in the Bible and in the Qur'an.

A few useful phrases in Amharic:

Tenastalign=How are you? 

Dehnaderu=Good night

Sintinew?=How much is it?

Ayasfeligegnim=I don't want it

Leslassa= Soft drink

Amboha=Mineral water

Birra=Beer

Wiha=Water

Ow (as in ‘how')=Yes

Ishi=OK

Aydellem=No

Sigarra=Cigarette

Shintibait=Toilet

Buna=Coffee

Shai=Tea

Injera=Sour dough pancake

Wot=Sauce or stew

Tela=Local beer

Tej=Honey wine

Yekirta=Excuse me

Amesegenalehu=Thank you

Na=Come

Hid=Go

Chiger yellem=No problem

A few useful phrases in Oromifaa:

Akkam Jirtuu=How are you?

Negaa-ti=Good bye

Nagaan-bulii=Good night

Meeqa=How much is it?

Hin barbaadu=I don't want it

Lalaffaa=Soft drink

Bishaan Ambo=Mineral water

Biraa=Beer

Bishaan=Water

Heye=Yes

Tole=OK

Miti=No

Sijaraa=Cigarette

Mana Fincaani=Toilet

Buna=Coffee

Shaayi=Tea

Biddeena=Sour dough pancake

Ittoo=Sauce or stew

Farsoo=Local beer

Daadhi=Honey wine

Dhiifama=Excuse me

Galatoomi=Thank you

Kootu=Come

Deemi=Go

Rakoon Ingiruu=No problem

A few useful phrases in Tigrignya:

Kamelekhum?=How are you?

Dehankunu=Good bye

Dehan hider=Good night

Kindey?=How much is it?

Aydelin=I don't want it

Leslassa=Soft drink

Mai gaz=Mineral water

Birra=Beer

Mai=Water

Oowe=Yes

Harrai=OK

Aykonnen=No

Shigarra=Cigarette

Shintibait=Toilet

Bun=Coffee

Shahi=Tea

Injera=Sour dough pancake

Tsebhi=Sauce or stew

Suwa=Local beer

Mes=Honey wine

Yekireta=Excuse me

Yekin yelley=Thank you

Na'a=Come

Kid=Go

Tsegem yellen=No problem

(Source: www.ethioembassy.org.uk)