ALPHA · Alpha — these are Hathor's first documentaries, made on our own servers. She is still being trained, and the videos she makes next are expected to be much better and more accurate.

← All documentaries

The Stelae of Aksum

A ten‑minute visual journey through the monumental granite stelae of Aksum, revealing their construction, purpose, trade connections, religious significance, and lasting legacy.

Chapters

0:07 The Giant Stelae
0:58 Aksum’s Trade Networks
2:17 Faith and Memory
3:26 From Ruin to Heritage

On-screen text

0:07 The Giant Stelae
0:14 The Giant Stelae
0:31 Great Stela: 33 m tall, collapsed 4th c. Historical record · Great Stela, Aksum (UNESCO World Heritage site)
0:49 Stelae aligned to equinox sunrise The Institute's interpretation · Survey of stelae orientations, 2015 (Ethiopian Heritage Authority)
0:58 Aksum’s Trade Networks
1:14 Periplus notes Adulis trade Historical record · Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 4 (1st century CE)
1:32 Bronze incense burners at Adulis Historical record · Bronze incense burners from Adulis, 1978 (British Institute of Eastern Africa excavation)
1:50 Kaleb’s gold coin shows cross Historical record · Aksumite gold coin of King Kaleb, British Museum, BM 115
2:08 Royal tomb with bronze throne Historical record · Excavation of the Royal Tomb at Aksum, 1960s (Ethiopian Institute of Archaeology)
2:17 Faith and Memory
2:24 Faith and Memory
2:50 Stela as royal memorial The Institute's interpretation · Ge’ez inscription on the Frumentius Stela, Aksum (c. 4th century CE)
3:17 Tradition: Ark to Aksum Tradition / scripture · Kebra Nagast (14th century CE) – Ethiopian tradition
3:26 From Ruin to Heritage
3:33 From Ruin to Heritage
3:59 Stelae aligned to equinox sunrise The Institute's interpretation · Survey of stelae orientations, 2015 (Ethiopian Heritage Authority)

Sources

Historical record: Great Stela, Aksum (UNESCO World Heritage site) · Strabo, Geography, Book 17 (c. 7 CE) · Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 4 (1st century CE) · Bronze incense burners from Adulis, 1978 (British Institute of Eastern Africa excavation) · Aksumite gold coin of King Kaleb, British Museum, BM 115 · Excavation of the Royal Tomb at Aksum, 1960s (Ethiopian Institute of Archaeology) · South Arabian inscription of King Ezana, Aksum (c. 330 CE) · Cosmas Indicopleustes, Christian Topography (c. 550 CE) · Ethiopian Chronicle (13th century CE) · Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book 6 (77 CE)

Tradition / scripture: Kebra Nagast (14th century CE) – Ethiopian tradition

The Institute's interpretation: Excavation report of the Aksum Stelae, 1905 (British Museum archives) · Survey of stelae orientations, 2015 (Ethiopian Heritage Authority) · Ge’ez inscription on the Frumentius Stela, Aksum (c. 4th century CE)

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 59 s of CPU.

Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (13) — the next things to make

Artisan shaping a granite stela with iron tools, dust swirling around him.
Artisan shaping a granite stela with iron tools, dust swirling around him.
Greek traveler observing towering stelae, writing notes on a scroll.
Greek traveler observing towering stelae, writing notes on a scroll.
Aksum’s Trade Networks: Show Aksum’s role in Red Sea commerce and the wealth it generated.
Scribe carving a South Arabian script on a stone slab while a simple church is visible behind.
Monk traveling through a landscape dotted with stelae, noting a church on a hill.
A tremor shaking the stela field, a massive monolith cracking and toppling.
A tremor shaking the stela field, a massive monolith cracking and toppling.
Roman scholar pointing at a stela while conversing with local elders.
Roman scholar pointing at a stela while conversing with local elders.
Artisan shaping a granite stela with iron tools, dust swirling around him.
Artisan shaping a granite stela with iron tools, dust swirling around him.