Axum

Axum (or Aksum) was an African civilization located in the Horn of Africa (Eritrea) and northern Ethiopia. It was a major naval and trading power, considered the third major empire after the Romans and Persians from the 1st-7th century CE. They had a plow-based agriculture of wheat, teff, barley, and millet, and maintained a hierarchical society and a large military; they had a king, nobles, and the rest of the population and collected tribute payments. Their city was devoted to the arts, enlargened by the famous obelisks to mark royal graves. They also retained a common language called Geez, similar to South Arabian script. The Axumites were known for their connection of the trade routes between the Mediterranean and Asiatic world with Egypt, Greece, Persia, and Byzantine; they sold many rich products (including slaves) that gave them an international reputation. Trade led to their eventual adoption of Christianity around the same time as Constantine in Rome, and expanded their territory through Meroe and Yemen. But eventually their size and influence declined, mainly due to erosion and soil exhaustion from farming, and the rise of Islamic culture, diminishing their trade routes.

Ethiopian Cross: This cross, also named the Lalibela Cross, was a symbol adopted in Ethiopia when Christianity was adopted by the Axumites. It has an African style, square at the base to represent the Arc of the Covenant, the geometric design, and the intertwined lattice represents "everlasting life." During the period of Axum's decline in which eleven kings ruled, King Lalibela received a divine visit from God telling him to build the New Jerusalem. Within his reign, he had built over twelve churches hewn from rock within twenty five years, named the Churches of Lalibela, and where the Ethiopian Cross has appeared several times.
Source: http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/ethiopian.html
https://sacredsites.com/africa/ethiopia/sacred_sites_ethiopia.html

 Axum Coins: As Axum was the first Christian civilization in Africa after the religion was , coinage, originally depicting the fish and Chi Rho were converted to Christian symbols such as the cross, one of the earliest appearances of the symbol. Gold coins were seen far more often than silver ones, and the words "King of Axum" or something of the like were often inscripted in Greek. Eventually this changed to their language, Geez, representing their possible decline of trade during the period of spreading Islamic influence.
Source: http://edgarlowen.com/early-world-coins.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aksumite_currency

Stone Obelisk: Created from black granite, these mysterious obelisks, also known as stelae are believed to have been built around the 4th century CE. The function of these obelisks are still unknown, and many have fallen (weighing as much as five tons!) but as most are in the general vicinity of nearby tombs, it's been speculated that they were meant to act as memorials for Axum's dead rulers; the more sophisticated and taller, the wealthier or more important the burial owner, with their decorative markings that represent a door and several levels in the stone. As many as thirteen stories tall, the stelae are significant in the architextual might of the Axumite; most of these are believed to have been erected at the time when Christianity was adopted.
Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aksu_2/hd_aksu_2.htm

Coronation of Menelik: The story of this painting is very important and points to religion's extreme importance in the Axumite civilization. Found in the renowned Saint Mary of Zion church in Ethiopia it tells the story of the relationship of King Solomon of Israel and Queen Sheba and their son Menelik. At 22 years old, the young heir to the throne left to Jerusalem to learn Moses' Laws and on his return to Ethiopia Menelik founded the Solomonic Dynasty when Judaism and the Laws of Moses were officially adopted. Even after his reign had ended, and Christianity was spreading through Axum during the 4th century, many retained their Jewish faith. Menelik is mostly associated with the Arc of the Covenant (a chest or a box that carried tablets with the Ten Commandments by the Israelites and considered one of the most holy and mysterious objects of the Temple of Jerusalem). On his return to Ethiopia, he apparently left a replica and took the real one from the Temple to his homeland and had it hidden. It has yet to be found, but it has a special influence on the religious and spiritual lives of the Axumites.
Source: http://www.ethiopiantreasures.co.uk/pages/aksum.htm

Pyxis: This pyxis is actually two-sided. Made of ivory and wood, it's an artifact traced back to Alexandria, Egypt in the 5th century CE, and shows the significance of trade that occured between the Axumites and the Mediterranean world.
Source: https://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/KingdomOfAksum_StudentsWorksheets.pdf

Crown of the King: Because there is so little known about Axum before they adopted Christianity, many of their earlier artifacts are difficult to interpret. For example, above is a crown, one that a typical Ethiopian king might wear. Even before converting to Christianity they seemed to have already been doing plenty of trade with the Roman Empire, such as precious gold. Basing off what I know, and the fact that after King Menelik (who supposedly stole the Arc of the Convenant) all monarchs after him were divinely descended, I believe the size and sheer grandeur of the crown was to emphasize this point and show off the Axum ruler's wealth.
Source: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/amazing-jewels-and-artifacts-found-2000-year-old-ethiopian-grave-020381

Inlaid Metal Tile: This is just one of many beautiful metal tile pieces that used to adorn walls during the Axumite's reign in Ethiopia. It's unsure whether this item was traded or created in Axum, but either way, it speaks of a high level of aesthetic influence on this world superpower and the wealth they had. Also, because it's not stone, it shows a strength in metallurgy that has begun to shape itself in these growing societies.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inlaid_Metal_Wall_Tile,_Axum,_Ethiopia_%282823615584%29.jpg

Ancient Painting of St. John, in the Kebra Nagast scriptures: The Kebra Nagast scriptures, containing over 117 seventeen chapters and originally written in Geez, can be translated as the "Glory of Kings." It speaks about the tale of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, the Arc of the Covenant and Jerusalem and questions are posed as to why it was written. Some say it was written by Moses and found in the Arc of the Convenant. Either way, the scriptures describe the Axumites and even the Ethiopians today in their religion and nationality.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kebra_Nagast

 Gold Perfume Flask: It seems that the dead were buried with many beautiful possessions that came along their trade routes. For example, objects such as iron bangles, Roman glass vessels, drinking beakers, and this Roman perfume flash with a woman's face engraved on the front were discovered in the burials as early as the 1st century and beginnings of Axum's power. The sheer amount of possessions can tell us that these were perhaps elitist burials; they named one woman's grave "Sleeping Beauty" after they found the remains of her body curled up, facing a bronze Roman mirror and the necklace she wore of a thousand beads.
Source: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/amazing-jewels-and-artifacts-found-2000-year-old-ethiopian-grave-020381

Ruins of Queen of Sheba's Palace: Queen of Sheba is a legendary figure who has shown up in many religions, but is most prominent in Ethiopian culture. Apparently, King Solomon heard her kingdom worshipped the Sun and sent the queen a letter asking for her to worship God. She came herself to Ethiopia, was seduced by the king and had their son, Menelik. Her gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense allude to the Virgin of Mary in Christianity. There are many differing opinions of where the land of Sheba might be, but there are legends that say she was born in 1020 BCE and became queen at age fifteen, ruling for forty years as an Ethiopian queen, and others, still more fascinating compare her to possibly being Nefertiti or one of her children, who worshipped the sun disk, Aten, and had a raise in power during her husband's rule; even though the time period is off, the Queen of Sheba was considered the queen of Ethiopia and Egypt. The ruins, quite literally, were believed to be her palace, and said to once have housed the stolen Arc of Covenant. The deep contextual background of the Axumites relates to the strength of religion during this time period.
Source: https://traveltoeat.com/the-queen-of-sheba/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Queen-of-Sheba