Axum - a city in northern Ethiopia named after the kingdom of Aksum, marine and trading powers, which dominated the region about 400 BC. er. to the X century AD. er. Medieval sources sometimes refer to this kingdom as "Ethiopia».
Ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found near the northern border of Ethiopia. They note the location of the nucleus of the ancient Ethiopian kingdom of Axum, which was the strongest country of the ancient world, along with the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The massive ruins, dating from the period I-XIII centuries. Include monolithic obelisks, huge stele, royal tombs and the ruins of ancient castles. Long after the political decline in the tenth century. Ethiopian emperors continued to be crowned in Aksum.
It is believed that after the VII century began the gradual decline of the Axum kingdom, partly because of the interception of the main trade routes of the Muslims. Eventually Aksum was cut off from its major markets in Alexandria, Byzantium and Southern Europe, and its place in trade relations took traders by Arabs. Aksumite kingdom also came into conflict with the Islamic world on issues of religion. Eventually Axumites were pushed to the south and their civilization declined. Together with the weakening of the power of the kingdom fell and the impact of the city, which is thought to have lost its population is similar to Rome and other cities, find themselves on the sidelines of world affairs. The last known (nominal) king was crowned at about X century, but the influence and power of the kingdom extinct long before.
Reducing the city's population and a decrease in the volume of trade contributed to the transfer of power center Ethiopian empire, which has shifted away from the coast, passed by inheritance alternate name (Ethiopia) region, and over time - and the modern state.
According to the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, in 2005 in the town of Axum, there were 47,320 people (estimate), of which 20 774 - men and 21 898 - zhnschin.75% of the population belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The rest of the population are Sunni Muslims and P'ent'ay (Protestants and other non-Christians).
In the vicinity of Axum is Aksum airport (Code ICAO HAAX, IATA - AXU).
Appreciating their historical value, in 1980 UNESCO included the archaeological sites of Axum in the list of world heritage
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