Travel Guide Metera

At 2 km south of Senafe, the archaeological site of Metera is known throughout the region under various names, such as: the door of Axum, the ruins of King Caleb or even Belew Kelew. While it is true that the excavated ruins can be disappointing for those who imagined they find here a axumite equivalent of Leptis Magna or the temple of Luxor, the atmosphere of the place, particularly enchanting, fills this disappointment largely and deserves a moment. Of course, to make best use of what Metera has to offer, better visit the site with a specialized guide.A larger site of ruins axumites after the site of Axum itself and the port of Adulis (also known as the port of the kingdom of Axum), only a tiny part of the ruins have been excavated so far and it is therefore certain that the site contains still many treasures not uncovered. The majority of these excavations were owed to the French archaeologist Francis Anfray who was carrying excavations for the Ethiopian Archaeology Institute between 1959 and 1965.The most intriguing discovery is an underground tunnel whose legend is that, from King Caleb's time, he connected Axum to Adulis by passing through Metera. a similar entry would exist in Axum, but would be blocked by a huge rock. As for the objects found during excavations, they include well preserved gold crosses, necklaces and glassware, Roman amphorae and Roman, sudarabes and Indian parts, testifying to the rich trade of the time.Not so long ago, the most representative symbol of Metera - a stele of 5 m high known for his inscriptions in Ge'ez and a pagan symbol: a disc (which would represent the sun) overcoming a growing moon on its face is - lying on a hill. Overthrown by the Ethiopian army when it occupied Senafe during the last war, the stele was broken into two pieces and git now near the road.