Ta’akha Maryam

Save

This is one site where the past very much outweighs the present, at least for now. Early excavations revealed that Ta’akha Maryam was a magnificent palace, probably dating from the 6th century AD or earlier. Covering a vast 120m-by-80m area, Ta’akha Maryam is bigger than Dungur and would have been far larger than medieval European palaces of the time. The Archaeological Museum has a model of how it may have looked. Sadly it's closed to the public pending excavations.

Today there’s little more than piles of rubble and a couple of dressed stone blocks strewn on either side of the road that the Italians cut straight through.

Just to the north is Enda Semon, another palace ruin with even less to see. Excavation is also due to begin here.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Northern Stelae Field
0.53 MILES
Despite the dizzying grandeur of the numerous rock needles reaching for the stars, it’s what’s under your feet here that’s most important. Amazingly,…
Abba Pentalewon
1.69 MILES
High above Aksum, on top of a tall, narrow peak, is Abba Pentalewon monastery. Tradition states it was built by Abba Pentalewon, one of the Nine Saints…
Ark of the Covenant Chapel
0.36 MILES
In between the old and new St Mary of Zion churches is the real reason for most people’s devotion: a tiny, carefully guarded chapel that houses what most…
St Mary of Zion Churches Complex
0.37 MILES
Though religions have come and gone, Aksum has always remained a holy city – welcome to the centre of the universe for Christian Ethiopians. A church of…
Arabtu Ensessa Church
0.25 MILES
The ‘Four Beasts’ Church, named after the writers of the Biblical Gospels, was rebuilt in the 1950s and is worth a look for the wonderful murals (most…
Gobodura Hill
2.41 MILES
A site known as Wuchate Golo is one of Aksum's four ancient quarries, the birthplace of the famous stelae. Several stelae (all unmarked) were almost…
Old Church of St Mary of Zion
0.34 MILES
The rectangular, men-only old church at the southern end of the complex of churches here is a remarkable example of traditional architecture built by the…
King Bazen's Tomb
0.67 MILES
Despite being the crudest of tombs, roughly hewn into solid rock instead of constructed with fine masonry, this place has a slightly magical feel…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Main Market

0.16 MILES

The main market, with spices and the like, runs all week, but is busiest on Saturday.

2. Old Quarter

0.18 MILES

It’s worth taking a wander around the old quarter surrounding the Northern Stelae Field and stretching west to Ta’akha Maryam. It’s in these dusty streets…

3. Arabtu Ensessa Church

0.25 MILES

The ‘Four Beasts’ Church, named after the writers of the Biblical Gospels, was rebuilt in the 1950s and is worth a look for the wonderful murals (most…

4. Da'Ero Ela Fig Tree

0.32 MILES

On the first seven days of each month (according to the Ethiopian calendar), St Mary of Zion’s replica Ark (the original replica) is paraded through the…

5. Basket Market

0.33 MILES

Aksum has two interesting markets that burst to life on Saturday; both are best between 10.30am and noon. This one takes place under the massive fig tree…

6. Throne Stone

0.34 MILES

At the top of the stairs in front of the old St Mary of Zion Church is the Throne Stone where the coronation of 261 Aksumite kings took place.

7. Old Church of St Mary of Zion

0.34 MILES

The rectangular, men-only old church at the southern end of the complex of churches here is a remarkable example of traditional architecture built by the…

8. Ark of the Covenant Chapel

0.36 MILES

In between the old and new St Mary of Zion churches is the real reason for most people’s devotion: a tiny, carefully guarded chapel that houses what most…

View more attractions