Aksum is a city situated in the highlands of northern Ethiopia and it symbolizes the wealth and importance of the ancient Aksumite kingdom, which is ground in the first century AD with Menelik I, who, according to tradition, was the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Soloman or Jerusalem. The ruins of the ancient Aksumite Civilization are evident all around this area. These most impressive monuments are the monolithic obelisks, royal tombs, and palace ruins. The stelae pictured above were built during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The largest standing obelisk stands at over 75 feet. The largest obelisk fell, possibly during the process of erection, but it would have been around 108 feet tall. You can explore the tombs beneath the stelae, just make sure you bring a flashlight!