Ethiopia's famed Axum obelisk put up at original site

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

AXUM, Ethiopia (AFP) — Ethiopia on Wednesday began work to relocate the famed Axum obelisk at its original site, seven decades after the 1,700-year-old treasure was removed by Italian troops, a UN expert said.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has overseen a multi-million-dollar operation to restore the obelisk in Axum in northern Ethiopia, where it once stood alongside around 100 other stelae.

The obelisk along with the Axum and Lalibela crosses figure among Ethiopia's top national treasures and symbols.

"Engineers arrived today and completed the verifying work. The first block will be linked with the foundation tomorrow through cables and cranes," Nada Al Hassan, UNESCO's project head, told AFP.

The 150-ton stela,...