The Axumite architecture of Ethiopia from 100-1000 AD was influenced by geography, geology, trade, and religion. Key features included multi-story palaces accessed by grand staircases and surrounded by courtyards, as well as elaborate tombs and steles. Masonry techniques used rounded "monkey head" joints anchored by timber beams. Proportions were based on simple arithmetic ratios rather than complex geometry. These styles demonstrated the Axumites' advanced engineering skills and established lasting architectural legacies still seen today.

1. Axumite
Architecture
Prepared by Ephrem N.

2. Influences in architecture
• Historical background
• Geographical
• Geological
• Religion
• Trade

3. Historical background
• The powerful kingdom of Axum rise Approximately 100 -
1000 AD
• It was the Axumites who detailed the first civilization of
historic Ethiopia.
• Over time Axum became not only wealthy trading
kingdom, but also strong military power specially during
the time of king Ezana around 350 AD.

4. Geographical Influence
• Geographical location provided advantages: well suited
for agriculture; red sea proximity ideal for trade, access
to Indian ocean
• Axum was a great commercial civilization with Egypt,
Persia, Arabia, Romans Byzantines, Ceylon and India
• Axum was protected by the mountains of north Tigray.

6. Geological influence
• Axum was protected by the mountains of north Tigray.
• The land of Axum was rich in fertile land for agriculture
as well as stone for construction of buildings and
monuments
• Location of their churches at high places

8. Trade
• The Axumites export Gold, Ivory, Rhinoceros-horn,
hippopotamus hide and slaves, and they imported all
kinds of textiles, knives, swords, luxury goods, cotton
and silk
• This trade connections gave Axum diverse cultures
• Merchants who came to Axum brought new ideas as well
as goods

9. Religion
• King Ezana converted to Christianity and his court
followed in early 4th century

11. AXUM’S
ACHIEVEMENTSControl over
NE African
Trade
Written
Language
Spread
Christianity
in N. & E.
Africa
Terrace
Farming
Built
Stelae

12. Axumite Architecture
• Decorations of the
largest stele at Axum
symbolize building
structures.
• The door and the first
row of small square
windows can be read
together as the ground
floor.

13. • Monumental Architecture (a high level of artistic ability,
advanced engineering and mathematical skills)
• Expression of the desire to build a multistory building
• Their ambition to build a high rise building is clearly stated
in the stele . 8 - 10 stories
Axumite Architecture

14. Construction technique: The ‘Monkey-head’
• Typical structural method of the Axumite period and in
the later Tigray vernacular architecture
• The walls are made of small stone –and-clay masonry
• The walls had to be strengthened at narrow intervals with
long squared timbers.
• These were then held by short round cross-pieces the
ends of which became visible as rows of protruding and
smoothly rounded “Monkey heads”.

15. • Axumite window and door frames were made
of timbers cut into each other, with no nails but
with shallow recesses and projections.
Construction technique: The ‘Monkey-head’

16. Construction technique: The ‘Monkey-head’

19. Design principle: The „equal-equal‟
• Principle of „equal-equal‟
generates the square, the
cube and the 450 angle and the
octagonal shape.
• „Equi-dimensional‟ of the
Axumite principle is different
from the „Central symmetrical‟
of the European/ Byzantine
tradition

20. Proportion
• Proportion in axumite architecture was not by “the
golden section” or any similar complicated geometrical
procedure but by straight forward arithmetical counting
of numbers and units.
• Like 2:3 or 3:4

22. • All four parts of equal
length.
• Similar to the „Greek
cross‟ rather than the „latin
cross‟.
• These crosses were used
on Axumite Coins
• They are also depicted in
drawings/paintings,
artifacts or as architectural
motifs in windows and
reliefs.
Early types of Ethiopian Crosses

23. Axumite dry stone masonry
construction
• Large and squarely dressed stones at the corners
• Small broken stones for the main bulk of walls
• Slabs of slates or similar flat stones to cover the many
narrow “shelves” which are formed because the walls
are stepped inwards at regular intervals
• The walls are much wider at the bottom higher up

25. Basic architectural characteristic
feature in axumite palaces
• Grand entrance stairs
• Courtyards
• Strong and well dressed corner walls
• Strong stone buttresses
• Multi storey

26. Legacies' of Axumite civilization
• Monolithic steles
• Mausoleums
• Palaces
• Monkey head construction
technique
• Equal - equal proportioning
technique
• Multi - story building techniques

27. Examples Palace at Dugur

32. Takha Mariam Palace
•Covers an area of 85*120m
•The palace is surrounded by a court
•From the court the palace is Accessed by
a grand stair
•Multi story

33. Takha Mariam Palace

34. The Tomb of Kaleb
and Gebremaskel

36. Mausoleums

38. Tomb of the false door
No mortar between
joints.

39. Steles

42. Measurement units carved
on stone

43. Exercise
Details of Axumite architecture features
• Construction detailing
• Decoration and pattern detailing
• Etc…
– Use one A-3 paper size as medium of presentation
– The presentation technique could be free hand
drawing or digital drawings. However it should be
strictly architectural having plans, sections, elevation,
and axonometric drawings.