Replica of the Obelisk of Aksum
This Replica of the Obelisk of Aksum, or Axum, is a hand-carved ivory model of a 70 foot tall ancient stele found in Aksum, in modern-day Ethiopia. Aksum was the seat of Ethiopia’s Government for the first nine centuries C.E.. The original was constructed around 327 C.E. and is made from granite. It was carved to represent a 9-story building with two false doors at the base and decorations resembling windows on all sides. The obelisk is crowned by a semi-circular top, thought to represent the sun.
This replica measures 65 inches in height, tapering from 8 inches wide at the base to 5 inches at the top. The ivory model rests on a wooden base which bears an inscription in both English and Arabic that says, “Presented by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia to the United Nations Organization Consecrated to the Service of the Brotherhood of Man Dedicated to the Preservation of World 国产AV Devoted to the Defense of Man's Basic Human Rights.”
The gift was presented to the United Nations by His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia (1892 – 1975), during his official visit to the United Nations Headquarters on October 4th, 1963 and was accepted on behalf of the United Nations by Secretary-General U Thant.
In 1937, the original Obelisk was removed from Ethiopia and brought offsite. In 1980, UNESCO recognized the obelisk as an important cultural monument and put it on the World Heritage List. In 2005, it was agreed that the iconic sculpture that had stood in place for more than 1,700 years would be brought back into place. In 2008, UNESCO completed the project and can be seen by both citizens and tourist alike.