Steles (vertically aligned slabs with inscriptions or bas-relief decorations, vertical tombstones), unique in the world, have survived to the present day in the former kingdom of Aksum.

Stelae marked graves or commemorated important events. They were constructed from a single fragment of nepheline syenite (an alkaline magma rock from the deep sea) quarried about 4 km from Axum. Some of the stelae bear trilingual inscriptions of King Ezana, written in Greek, Sabaean and Ge'ez (a language of the Ethiopian group spoken and written in the kingdom of Aksum. It is used today as the liturgical language of Ethiopian Orthodox Church ).