Magi’s Tomb in Axum (Aksum), Ethiopia

A Magi’s Tomb may have been found in Axum (Aksum), Ethiopia. The Birth of Christ is said to have taken place in the eighth year of Emperor Bazén’s reign. The Ethiopian church teaches that Emperor Bazén was one of the Magi who visited Jesus soon after his birth. He delivered the gift of frankincense.

Emperor Bazén (Jewish), whose name also appears as Zäbe’esi Bazén, ZäBazén Balthazar or Tazén, was the seventeenth or twenty-first ruler of the Solomonic line according to the shorter King Lists or the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth ruler of his line according to the longer King Lists.

Because papyrus and skins did not survive due to the humidity, of old it has only been oral tradition, or stone inscriptions. What we think is the Magi’s tomb, can be visited today in Axum (Aksum) as can the Boswellia grove that the frankincense most likely came from. When the Emperor returned to Axum he announced that the Messiah had been born. There are several accounts of who the Magi specifically were.

The so-called “Stone of Bazen” is now built into one of the walls of the cathedral of Maryam Tseyon at Aksum, or St. Mary of Zion. It is St. Mary of Zion where many believe the Ark of the Covenant is waiting. (Zephaniah 3:10-12: From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering.)

In addition to the Tomb of Bazén, located to the West of the city of Axum is what is called the Tomb of Ityopis. The Book of Aksum that was kept at St. Mary of Zion church and was written in the 14th to 17th century AD with updates in the 19th century AD states that Ityopis was the great grandson of Noah.

The late Ruth Plant identified the location per archeologist Stuart Munro-Hay.

Modern day Israel confirms the great numbers of Beta Israel living in Ethiopia. Bazen ruled at a time of great Judaic influence in Aksum. Could Bazen have been one of the great Magi that was one of Daniel’s understudies? Is the Magi’s Tomb where we think it is? Join us on a Christian trip to Ethiopia and learn for yourself.