The Axumite kingdom in northern Ethiopia was established between
200 and 100 BC and was once one of the four kingdoms of the world.
The legendary Queen of Sheba reigned in the region eight or nine
centuries later. The region is home to some of the world's
obelisks carved with 'doors' and 'windows' and are
thought, like Stonehenge, to have some solar or astronomical
measuring role. One of the obelisks was looted from Axum by
Mussolini in 1937 and in 1947, Italy signed a pledge to the UN to
give back the obelisk – but has not followed through until now. The
obelisk – the only one on two continents weighing over 100 tonnes –
was situated in a square in Rome in front of what was once the
'Ministry for Italian Africa' (now the FAO building). The
obelisk has been cut into three sections, and has been awaiting its
return in a warehouse near Rome airport. The top piece of the
obelisk is now scheduled to leave Rome on a cargo plane in April
but this has been postponed because the Italian culture ministry
says Axum airport does not have radar, so the pilots must wait for
good weather.