EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a good demonstration of the Woyanne regime’s misplaced priorities. The $10 million could have been used to save tens of thousands of children who are dying of starvation. This is a criminal neglect of the most defenseless in our society — the children.
AXUM, Ethiopia (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Ethiopians cheered on Thursday as a 1,700-year-old giant stone obelisk taken to Italy by fascist invaders in the 1930s was restored to its historic site in an ancient northern town.
The national treasure was returned to Ethiopia three years ago by the Italian government and U.N. engineers have helped install it at its original location in Axum, which was once the centre of a powerful trading empire.
“The cooperation to return the obelisk which was looted and taken to Rome by Italy’s fascist government was the right decision,” Ethiopian Prime Minister dictator Meles Zenawi said as the obelisk was unveiled to roars of approval from the crowd. [Meles and his crime family have looted much more Ethiopian treasures than Italy]
Plundered during Italy’s 1937 invasion, the 24-metre (78-foot), 160-tonne chiselled granite tower had been placed in a Rome square by fascist leader Benito Mussolini.
It was returned in April 2005, but its return to the Axum site was delayed while scientists studied newly discovered subterranean funeral chambers and royal arcades used by several dynasties before the Christian era.
Richard Pankhurst, a British historian who had campaigned for its return, said Thursday’s ceremony was a significant sign of improving relations between Ethiopia and Italy.
The Italian government paid some $10 million in shipping and installation costs.
“Only the return of the obelisk could heal the still festering scars left by the atrocities committed by Mussolini and his fascist hordes,” Pankhurst told Reuters.
He said the Ethiopian authorities should now turn their attention to erecting six other fallen obelisks in Axum.
“While we rejoice at the return of the obelisk from Italy, the challenge now for the government is to re-erect those fallen obelisks,” Pankhurst said.
A thousand years before Christ, Axum was the city of the legendary Queen of Sheba and the heart of Axumite civilisation, one of the greatest in the ancient world. Modern Ethiopians see themselves as the descendants of this Biblical kingdom.
Legend has it that God blessed the city after the queen’s son Menelik I stole the Ark of the Covenant from his father King Solomon in Jerusalem and brought it to Axum, where many Ethiopians believe it remains to this day.
12 thoughts on “Obelisk is unveiled in Axum – misplaced priorities”
Mr. Elias how wrong can you in your analysis of things. The Itialian government is paying for the transportation and installation of the Oblisk. They are not going to give you $10 million in cash and tell you go ahead and do whatever you want to do with it. I know you are not seeking my advice but it is better if you just report the news because your ‘Editor’s notes’ are way off more often than not.
I don’t know if readers of Ethiopianreview remember, but in 2005 when Italy agreed to return it, they had also said (as they did) they’d pay for the shipping/installation, BUT they also gave Ethiopia more than 400 Million Dollars? in grants and part loans. I was in Ethiopia/Addis at the time and Woyane was running propaganda TV ads about the return and how Italy has done the right thing and given the gov’t all the money and other assistance, they ran ads on TV showing old clips from World War II and then interestingly showed clips of the return of the obelisk and finally stated that Italy and Ethiopia are at peace and friendly nations now, thanks of course to Woyane! It was pitiful brainwashing propaganda, something that naive Italian diplomats may believe but the population of Addis knew it was a business as usual propaganda by Woyane just cause they were given money by Italy. Italians said the reason they gave the money was due to Ethiopia’s great advance in democracy and having the right leadership in Meles Zenawi! What an insult! They might as well have mentioned Mussolini!
On an interesting side note, do Ethiopians realize that historically speaking Meles/Musolini, have implemented the same exact ethnic rule? The second they got to power, they both have broken the administration of the country in terms of Killils/Ethnic Homelands. (1st thing Italians did is this!) They both said, they’d rule it forever of destroy it…I wonder why there is so much fascist parallel between Meles and Mussolini…I wish someone can gather other facts, there are so many similarities!
Why, that is “Show-and-Tell” for the criminal gangs that are ruling (misruling) Ethiopia!
“Legend has it that God blessed the city after the queen’s son Menelik I stole the Ark of the Covenant from his father King Solomon in Jerusalem and brought it to Axum, where many Ethiopians believe it remains to this day.”
This is a direct blasphemy to God. Whose God is that please?, the God who blessed the thief, and Axum as a sanctified place (sanctuary) of a stolen object? Is he God of Israel or God of the Axumite kings? God never blesses thieves and houses where stolen properties are stored. No question This could be one of the prime reasons why Abysinian kings, warlords and dictators have been practising stealing, looting and plundering as blessed professions and their palaces as blessed sanctuaries of plundered properties of innocent peoples. Shame on those who tell this as a proud-authentic history or legendary history of the peoples of that country.
As we all know Italy is a puppet of the US and whatever the US state department wants gets done, the obelisk belongs in Axum but what is the big deal? What I can’t understand is the myth that the Axumite empire, there has not been a detailed historical investigation done to tell the true ancient history of our area, it is all filled with myths and false history to justify the power of the time, in the 21st century what is needed a detailed scientific examination of the history of our area from ancient times to the modern without any bias towards any current or past powers. I know Richard Punkhurst is one of those Ethiophiles who is more interested in Imperial history, he could care less as long as he has his name attached to anything to make him look like a true historian, Woyanne is using this obelisk to ascertain their claim to imperial power in Ethiopia, that is all you will get from them, they have a good scheme going until their ultimate demise but in short run they will use and fool gullible Ethiopians into believing they have a glorious imperial history while plundering the country.
Do you know parts of Holy Bible(John 10:39) which says “when they(Jewish) tried to seize Him(Christ),but He escaped from their grasp(hand)”.Here it wasn’t the time of crucifixion of Christ,therefore,He escaped(not fear).Like this,the Ark of Covenant has been escaped from the grasp(hands) of Israeli ties and be in the hands of Ethiopians.this is the will and plan of God,This is the love of the commandment or the Ark of Covenant by Ethiopians,not being seen as thieves.not stealing,ok waaqiqo,(Shame on you).Didn’t you read the recent archeological findings of German archeologists who testify that really the Ark of Covenant is in Ethiopia since they have discovered the evidences which show the presence of The Ark in it.Please don’t be blind,read,both scientific and religious evidences.Amos 9:7″Are not you Israelities the same to me as Ethiopians”.Understand this sentence then you will be regretted for above your comments,Waaqqiqqoo
I call all these hoopla by weyane cadres,”another soap opera”; to this date Meles want to look as a giant as the Obeliski and other world leaders. But the truth of the matter is that he is midget, ugly, baldy, begger, lier, looter, killer, deceiter, and so on. For quite to long he had been hidig behind so many skirts and ruggedy agazi clothes but it is the begining of the end for meles, bereket, seyoum, and azeb. They have misrepresented Ethiopia for the last 18 years and brought Ethiopians shame after shame to the point where it is ashame to call yourself “I’m an Ethiopian”
DEAR MR ELIAS:
Your note seems a little bit out of context.There is no misplased priorities. The return of Axum has been a grand design persued relentlessly prior to this governoment coming to power.It was an effort of Ethiopians concerned who has genuinly earmarked their time and resource and tried tirelessly for its return to happen. It is a mere coincidence that our treasure has come up to our beloved land during such time our people are starving yet again. But that does not mean, its return has to be left in vain.I do not understand where the misplacement priorities has to be fit in?You seem to be paranoied a bit typical of shabian style. This time you completly lost the plot:Please do not shot your leg for no apparent reason!
With respect!
BERHANE
have read the recent Abraham Yayeh writing. specially the last paragraph of his 16 page trash. it is my prayer his wish is fullfilled so that we can leave in peace.
Fascist Italy massacred more than 5 000 000 Ethiopians during the occupation of our country. In the context of the Obelisk, I would have rather asked an excuse and a substantial compensation say 10 Billion Euro from Berlusconi. This I would say should be a permanent issue with the Italian government to honor the blood of ancestors.
Currently, the priorities should have been to save the lives of our brothers and sisters from the south, the people of Wollo, Afar and the millions of starved people in Addis from famine. The obelisk is the history of us, people form Ogadne, Wollo, Eritrea, Gomogofa, Africa, etc it is there, we are proud of it and it is not going anywhere.
What is the use of erecting an old obelisk when the children of Ethiopian are dying of famine?
Dear Elias,
Yes, once again you have lost the plot. This is not the effort of TPLF but that of the Ethiopians. What makes me sad rather is Meles’s insult of the Ethiopians that Axum has nothing to do with us (his remark on what have the Gurages, Wollaita, etc.. got to do with Axum).
On the £10 million, who do you wsih the Italians to give it? I am sure you would make more fuss and cry if it has gone to TPLF. Please don’t make yourself a laughing-stock.
waqoo go home and read some history books of ethiopia, don`t just blindly hate the great Abisiniyan kings as woyane tells you, read the bible and what is written about ethiopia and the power of the ark of the covenant and and the house of God that king Solomon (father of Minilik the 1st) built where the arc was residing before it came to ethiopia and , read also ” the sign and the seal” by Graham Hankock and the references he used, Richard Pankrest has also helped him with references. Try to ask yourself what you did to your country before insulting your ancestors don`t be “… yenatun tut nekash…”