The Ruins of Kohaito
                  By Bent Theodore (Circa 1880)

  The extent of the ruins on Kohaito is most remarkable; on small mounds in every direction, peeping out the juniper trees, are to be seen columns and large blocks of stone, where buildings have stood. The town must have covered many acres when at its best. About 200 yards from the lake, on rising ground by the stream, stood a series of small temples, of one of which we were able to get tolerably accurate measurements. It stood on a platform, 46 feet in length, built of large and regularly cut stones, and was approached by a flight of steps. On the top of this platform are still standing several columns, and their architecture of Adulis and the architecture of the old columns previously alluded to at Axum. These columns were evidently in rows of 5 ft. and 6 in. apart and originally supported a slate roof, and the uniformity of all the columns and capitals, both in the ruins at Kohaito and Adulis, is sufficient proof of their kindred origin. They stand only 10 feet high, and are square, with a narrow line cut off the four edges. The capitals are formed of three square step –like tiers. The columns at Kohaitu are made of sandstone, the stone of the place, whereas those at Adulis are of black basalt, and those of Aksum of granite, but in other respects they are identical. They are of course, belong to a late order architecture, and probably do not date further back than the centuries just before our era; but the Adulis did not come into prominence until late period, and naturally the architecture adopted was of decadence. Mr. A.S. Murray, of the British Museum, had called my attention to the similarity of the square shaft and step-like capital the shaft and covering as shown in the Harpy tomb from Xanthus in Lycia. This similarity is very striking when the other architectural points, traceable to Asia Minor in this part of the world, are taken into account- namely, the beam ends on the monoliths at Aksum, and the imitation and receding doors and windows. That an influence from Asia Minor was at work here is pretty certain, and it easily to be accounted for the days of the third Ptolemy, who extended his victories over all that part of Asia Minor, and may have transplanted artificers to his new colonies on the Red Sea from the conquered cities.

Haile Bokure (1999). Adulis: The Historical Landmark of Eritrea. Page. 31-33.

Images showing the ruins of Kohaito will be mailed separately.