The Axum Obelisk or Aksum Obelisk was originally erected sometime around 300 AD in the Kingdom of Aksum, one of hundreds of markers for underground burial chambers. These are generally carved with false doors and windows to look like an actual tower, and the Axum Obelisk is no exception. There are a number of larger 'royal' obelisks, and it is common enough to call King Ezana's Stele the Auxum Obelisk; however, the structure currently in question was one of the few even taller than King Ezana's. In 1935 Italian soldiers found the remains of the Axum Obelisk buried and broken into three pieces; it was believed to have been toppled during the Muslim rebellion (1529 to 1543).
The obelisk spent nearly 70 years as spoils of war in Rome, with the best-laid plans of returning it thwarted by bureaucracy, the Eritrean-Ethiopian War (1998-2000), and inadequate infrastructure (short runways and narrow roads; or to be more exact, really immensely large stones). The obelisk was eventually shipped in three parts during April of 2005 (the first of these was touted as the heaviest single piece of air freight ever), a project which Italy says cost a total of $7.7 million dollars. It was finally re-erected after 500 years in September of 2008, and remains standing to this day.