This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7597589.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ethiopia to unveil Axum obelisk Ethiopia unveils ancient obelisk
(about 2 hours later)
Ethiopia is celebrating the unveiling of the reassembled Axum obelisk, one of the country's greatest treasures.Ethiopia is celebrating the unveiling of the reassembled Axum obelisk, one of the country's greatest treasures.
The obelisk was looted by Italian troops in the 1930s and returned to Ethiopia in 2005. The obelisk, at least 1,700 years old, was looted by Italian troops in the 1930s and returned to Ethiopia in 2005.
Early on Thursday, it was covered by a giant banner with the colours of the Ethiopian flag as officials gathered for an unveiling ceremony. A giant Ethiopian flag was removed from the obelisk in front of what organisers said was a crowd of tens of thousands in the ancient northern town of Axum.
The 1,700-year-old monument weighs more than 150 tonnes and was brought back from Italy in three pieces. The ceremony is the last big event of Ethiopia's millennium year, the year 2000 by the country's Coptic calendar.
Intricately carved obelisks were erected at the tombs of Ethiopia's ancient kings. The president and prime minister were among the officials attending.
The return of the Axum obelisk followed decades of negotiations between the Italian and Ethiopian governments, and long delays in transporting the heavy stones from Rome. Ancient empire
The monument has now been restored and resurrected in its original home in the northern town of Axum. Intricately carved obelisks were erected at the tombs of Ethiopia's ancient kings when Axum was the centre of a great empire.
The obelisk shows the architectural talent of our ancestors Berhanu Kebede Ethiopian ambassador to the UK
But only one remained standing amid the tumbled blocks of its former companions, the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt reports from Ethiopia.
The Axum obelisk was taken by troops in 1937 during the Italian occupation.
The monument weighs more than 150 tonnes and was brought back from Italy in three pieces.
Its return followed decades of negotiations between the Italian and Ethiopian governments, and long delays in transporting the heavy stones from Rome.
The monument has now been restored and resurrected in its original home.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
How the Axum obelisk was restoredHow the Axum obelisk was restored
It had been lying on the ground for centuries when the Italians found it, and some archaeologists argued it should have been replaced in that position to avoid damage to it or nearby monuments. It had been lying on the ground for centuries when the Italians found it, and some archaeologists argued it should have been replaced in that position to avoid damage to it or nearby networks of underground tombs.
But others have said Ethiopians should be able to see the obelisk in its original position.But others have said Ethiopians should be able to see the obelisk in its original position.
"We have fought a protracted battle to bring back our historical asset, and this is very important because it's a manifestation of who we are and it also shows what our ancestors have done," Ethiopia's ambassador to the UK, Berhanu Kebede, told the BBC's Network Africa programme. Ethiopia's ambassador to the UK, Berhanu Kebede, told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the obelisk would help his country "to build a stronger and vibrant nation".
"We have fought a protracted battle to bring back our historical asset, and this is very important because it's a manifestation of who we are and it also shows what our ancestors have done," he said.
"The obelisk shows the architectural talent of our ancestors and modern architects are fascinated how the Ethiopians were able to do that during that period."