Queen of Sheba's Palace

for the palace in Oman see Queen of Sheba's Palace (Sumharam).

Queen of Sheba's Palace
Ruins of Queen of Sheba's Palace
Location within Ethiopia
General information
Architectural style	Biblical
Town or city	Axum
Country	Ethiopia
Coordinates	14°07′00″N 38°44′00″E / 14.1166°N 38.7333°E / 14.1166; 38.7333
Completed	1000 BC
Demolished	Not known

Queen of Sheba's Palace, also known as Dungur or Dongar, is a ruined palace in Axum, Ethiopia. It was originally built in the 10th-century B.C. and was once a home of the Queen of Sheba of Axum, a UNESCO listed Heritage Site.^[1]

The early excavations done in 1952 by Francis Atrey, a French Archaeologist dated the Queen of Sheba's Palace to around 7th century AD. However, subsequent excavations and carbon dating of the antiquaries have indicated vintage of a pre-Christian era.^[2] The site was excavated by a team of archaeologists led by Helmut Ziegert from the University of Hamburg for nine years, who carried out more scientific studies on the ruins of Sheba palace. An altar at the site with two columns is claimed by some researchers to have been the place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before the first temple was built in Axum.^[1] Excavations also unearthed antiquaries Sirius symbols, the debris of sacrifices and the alignment of sacred buildings to the rising-point of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.^[3]

History

The history of the Queen of Sheba's Palace is directly linked to the "Makeda, fabled Queen of Sheba" (recorded in the Old Testament) who was born in Axum, journeyed to Jerusalem, Israel and got married to King Solomon of Biblical fame (as narrated in the Bible) and had a son named Menelik. Menelik I, when he returned to Ethiopia and became the first Emperor of Ethiopia, had brought the original Arc of the Covenant (containing the tablets on which Moses wrote the Ten Commandments) back to Ethiopia from Israel. Today, the Arc, remains well hidden in Axum, guarded by a select group of monks solely committed to this task. Ethiopians, however, believe that The Arc, is in Aksum ever since it was brought (and is housed in an annex to the Church of St Mary of Zion).^[3][4][5]

The excavations carried out by the Hamburg University also revealed remnants of a 10th-century-BC palace at Axum-Dungur buried under the later day palace of a Christian king. It was also inferred that the earlier palace had been destroyed and "realigned to the path of the star Sirius". It is also conjectured that Menelik had changed religion and become a worshiper of Sirius while keeping the Ark. Ark, as mentioned in the Bible is an acacia-wood chest covered with gold plating.^[3]

The Mai Shun (an artificial pond known as the Baths of Sheba), the Sheba's palace and its links with the Biblical period have provided the religious significance to Axum, a UNESCO recognised World Heritage Site and the melange of values that exists in Axum.^[6]

Geography

The palace also known as Dongar Palace since it is located at Dongar, close to Axum (in the administration region of Tigrai) the most ancient and sacred city of Ethiopia, which was the hub of Auxamite civilization. It is 365 km northeast of Gondar.^[5]

Architecture

The architectural remains are described as "small undressed stones set in a timber framework and walls recessed at intervals and tapering with height."^[7] The flagstone floor is well preserved and is believed to have been part of a throne room and there is also a private bathing area and a kitchen, with two large brick ovens.^[7] The ruins of the stairwells indicate it had at least one upper storey.^[7] The well preserved floor plan and the entrance stairs establish that a large palace had been built at the site. It had more than 50 rooms. A well laid out drainage system also existed at the palace. Many relics were found at site which are preserved in the museum at Axum.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hickley, Catherine (May 8, 2008). "Queen of Sheba's Palace Discovered in Ethiopia, University Says". http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aHkn1LT4dQcU. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Philip Briggs; Brian Blatt (1 July 2009). Ethiopia. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 264–. ISBN 9781841622842. http://books.google.com/books?id=QFb6pacaczsC&pg=PA264. Retrieved 23 July 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Archaeologist believe dem found " Queen of Sheba's Palace in Axum, Ethiopia". Jah Works. http://rastaislife.spruz.com/forums/?page=post&id=29ADF76E-0BD2-4C39-B8FB-2558916F2CA3. Retrieved 23 July 2011. 
4. ^ "Aksum". UNESCO. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/15. Retrieved 23 July 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Axum". Selamta.net. http://www.selamta.net/axum.htm. Retrieved 23 July 2011. 
6. ^ Ismail Serageldin; Ephim Shluger; Joan Martin-Brown (January 2001). Historic cities and sacred sites: cultural roots for urban futures. World Bank Publications. pp. 358–. ISBN 9780821349045. http://books.google.com/books?id=HU3d8sQH1JgC&pg=PA358. Retrieved 23 July 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} Carillet, Jean-Bernard; Butler, Stuart; Starnes, Dean (1 November 2009). Ethiopia and Eritrea. Lonely Planet. p. 140. ISBN 9781741048148. http://books.google.com/books?id=bWMlKz_Zq-IC&pg=PA140. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 

External links

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