Lalibela
Lalibela, named after a 12th century king of Ethiopia, is famous for its amazing rock cut churches. Carved out of the rock rather than built with stone (see also pentra in Jordan), each of these 11 churches has been excavated from the rock, cutting out the intricate interior with great care. Today, Lalibela Rock Churches are a UNESCO World Heritage site. King Lalibela was a member of the Zagwe dynasty, who had ousted the previous dynasty in the 11th century AD. He was a Christian and his creation of these churches was part of his wish to create a ‘New Jerusalem’ for those who could not make the pilgrimage to the holy sites of that city.
About The Yeha Temple
The Yeha Temple, also known as the Great Temple of Yeha, is possibly the oldest standing building in Ethiopia, dating back, it is thought, to around 700 BC. The temple harks back to the earliest religions of the area and contains some Judaic artefacts, perhaps giving some credence to claim of the early dynasty of their descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
The Yeha Temple History
Yeha, is thought to have been the pre-aksumite capital of Ethiopia, and the Yeha Temple dates to this period, particularly 700 BC during the reign of D’mt. The temple was built in honour of the moon god Almougah in the Sabean style, which was common across sub-Saharan Africa.
Archaeologists also believe the Yeha Temple was repurposed in the 6th century AD as a Christian church and St Abuna Aftse monastery – a theory that would explain its fantastic state of preservation – as the religion spread through the region. A remarkable aspect of the Yeha Temple is that it was constructed without the use of mortar.
Other places of interest at Yeha include a burial ground and ruined buildings containing, amongst other things, some interesting square columns. There have been some archaeological digs in the area, dating back to the early 1950’s.
About Axum
Axum or Aksum is a city in the North of Ethiopia at the base of the Adwa Mountains. Once the capital of the region, Axum is still a comparatively large city with a population of around 50,000 people. Axum is most famous for being one of the supposed sites of the Ark of the Covenant, in the care of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Due to its historic and cultural value, Axum was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Axum History
The Aksumite Empire was a naval trading power that ruled the region as early as the 4th century BC until the 10th century AD. Around 356 BC, the empire converted to a variety of Christianity under the guidance of a Lebanese monk called Frumentius or Abuna. Later under Emperor Kaleb, Axum allied with Byzantium.The Aksumite Empire peaked under the Emperor Ezana in the 4th century as it embraced Christianity. Coins issued around 270 AD were the first to bear Christianity’s symbol of the cross, following the Roman design by also showing the ruler.The empire fell into decline after the 7th century as the Arabs began contesting Red Sea trade routes, eventually cut off from trading with Alexandria, Byzantium and Southern Europe. Axum was then laid waste to by the Empress Gudit of Semien and the power center moved south to Agaw.
The Haar Jugol History
The area of Haar Jugol emerged as the centre of Islamic culture and religion during the middle Ages. The Islamic Arabic cleric Abadir Umar ar-Rida settled in Harar, located on a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and savannah, around 1216 AD. The historic Harar Jugol Walls was built during the 13th and 16th centuries, fortifying the town.
It was between 1520 and 1568 that Harar served as the capital of the Harari Kingdom in what is known as Harar’s ‘Golden Age’. Local culture flourished, known for coffee, weaving, basketry and bookbinding home to many poets. From the late 16th century to the 19th century, Harar Jugol was an important trade centre between the coast and the interior highlands and a location for Islamic learning. Harar Jugol became an independent emirate in the 17th century until it was invaded by Egypt in 1875. In 1887, the Emperor Menelik II integrated Harar Jugol into Ethiopia. And suffered commercially as the French built the Addis Ababa to Djibouti Railway, diverting north of Harar to save money.
Gondar Castel
Years of coverage in the media have left many people under the impression that Ethiopia is merely some arid landscape, but that entire narrative can be overturned in moments with a trip to Gondar, a settlement founded in the 17th Century, which is home to a castle of the same name. The castle was built for King Fasilides, and the town around it went on to become one of Ethiopia’s key agricultural towns. Buying a ticket for entry to the castle entitles you to a second visit, wherein you can see Fasilides’ Bath, a large, ornate ceremonial pool.
