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Beta Samati: Discovery and Excavation of an Aksumite Town Michael J
Beta Samati: discovery and excavation of an Aksumite town Michael J. Harrower1,*, Ioana A. Dumitru1, Cinzia Perlingieri2, Smiti Nathan3,Kifle Zerue4, Jessica L. Lamont5, Alessandro Bausi6, Jennifer L. Swerida7, Jacob L. Bongers8, Helina S. Woldekiros9, Laurel A. Poolman1, Christie M. Pohl10, Steven A. Brandt11 & Elizabeth A. Peterson12 The Empire of Aksum was one of Africa’smost influential ancient civilisations. Traditionally, most archaeological fieldwork has focused on the capital city of Aksum, but recent research at the site of Beta Samati has investigated a contempor- aneous trade and religious centre located between AksumandtheRedSea.Theauthorsoutlinethe discovery of the site and present important finds from the initial excavations, including an early basilica, inscriptions and a gold intaglio ring. From daily life and ritual praxis to international trade, this work illuminates the role of Beta Samati as an administrative centre and its signifi- cance within the wider Aksumite world. Keywords: Africa, Ethiopia, Aksum, ancient trade, ancient states 1 Department of Near Eastern Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Gilman 113, 3400 North Charles Street, Balti- more, MD 21218, USA 2 Center for Digital Archaeology, 555 Northgate #270, San Rafael, CA 94903, USA 3 Life Design Lab, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA 4 Archaeology and Heritage Management, P.O. Box 1010, Aksum University, Aksum, Ethiopia 5 Department of Classics, Yale University, 344 College Street, P.O. Box 208266, New Haven, CT 06520, -
LALIBELA Ethiopia, Africa
LALIBELA Ethiopia, Africa Unesco World Heritage Site in 1978 According to oral tradition, Ethiopia was founded by Ethiopicus, the great-great- grandson of Noah. His son, named Axumai, founded the capital of Axum and a dynasty that reigned for 97 generations. His last queen, named Makeda (Queen of Sheba). She visited King Solomon in Jerusalem and returned pregnant. Her son Menelik I was the first of the Solomonic dynasty which ruled almost uninterruptedly until 1974 when Haile Selassie was deposed. Within the latter dynasty the best known king was Lalibela (1133-1173) and according to tradition, he travelled to Jerusalem just before the city fell into Muslim hands and then decided to create a new Jerusalem in Ethiopia, giving his name to this city of churches. The churches of Lalibela were built between the 7th and 13th centuries. They are carved from single blocks of red basaltic rock, without bricks, wood or mortar. Chisels, axes and shovels were used to carve into the porous volcanic surface. There are 4 free-standing churches and the others are attached to the rock. The churches were linked by passages and over time a multitude of hollows and caves were cut into the rock around the temples. These cavities were used as tombs (bones can still be seen) and as dwellings for hermits. Why were the churches built "underground"? • Where Lalibela is, there is no stone or wood to build with, there is only the rock where the churches were excavated. • The temples were hidden from the eyes of the Arabs, who were harassing Ethiopia at the time. -
Partners' Guide to Ethiopia
PARTNERS’ GUIDE TO ETHIOPIA Africa Avenue, one of the main streets in Addis Ababa. One of the main streets in Addis Ababa. Welcome Statement from Dennis Weller Mission Director, USAID Ethiopia Mission Director Dennis Weller USAID/Ethiopia Dear Reader, If you’ve opened this guide, you have already As the home of the African Union and the United demonstrated an interest in development Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis opportunities in Ethiopia. That is an important Abeba is already the diplomatic hub of Africa. first step. Assuming Ethiopia continues on its current development track, it has the potential to become Boasting one of the highest GDP growth rates an economic hub. in the world over the past decade, Ethiopia is certainly on the rise. The Government of Ethiopia All of us at the United States Agency for was instrumental in leading that growth and International Development in Ethiopia (USAID) now has ambitious plans to move Africa’s second would like to encourage potential investors to most populous country and one of its poorest to look at the opportunities which Ethiopia offers middle-income status by 2025. In support of that and to consider investing if it makes sense. As a goal, it is investing heavily in its infrastructure and development agency, we like to say that our goal social services. is to one day work ourselves out of a job. That day may still be some way off in Ethiopia, but we’re For our part, USAID’s development portfolio optimistic that the growing involvement of the consists of a wide range of activities designed private sector in Ethiopia’s development will help to create opportunities for Ethiopian citizens. -
Ethiopia Lifetime Adventure | 2019 Ethiopia Highlights
Gheralta Mountains Human © the Movie ethiopia lifetime adventure | 2019 ethiopia highlights Lalibela - exploring the incredible 12th century rock-hewn churches. Visit the church in a cave - Yemrehana Krestos. Low level flight through the spectacular Tekeze gorge Tigray Region & Gheralta mountains - ancient rock-hewn churches full of colourful frescoes and artefacts. Danakil Depression - Afar people on the salt pans, neon sulphur springs at Dallol and the turquoise pools of Lake Asal. Stellae monuments at the bustling town of Aksum, the building believed to house the Ark of the Covenant, Maria Zion and the monastery with the treasure house. Simien Mountains - high altitude landscapes, Gelada baboon & Walia Ibex. Royal Enclosure of Gondar - Castles and imperial houses dating back 400 years. End of your safari! Dawn over the Simiens © Richard Coke itinerary Aksum Day 1: Addis Ababa Explore the street markets and museum, TIGRAY and enjoy an evening in the traditional Simiens Gheralta song houses. Sheraton Hotel SUDAN Gondar Tekeze River Danakil Day 2 & 3: Lalibela FlyCongo to Lalibela viahighlights the Blue Nile gorge. AMHARA Visit some of the ancient monolithic AFAR churchesVirunga including National St George Parkand Lalibela Yemrehana Krestos, in the company of a local guide.Mountain Mountain & Lowland View Gorilla Hotel Semliki River, Lake Edward & Sinda Day 4, 5 & 6: Tigray Region Our next destination is GheraltaGorge in the Tigray region, flying via the spectacular TekezeSenkwekwe Gorge. We gorillawill visit orphanage the ancient Blue churches in the mountains including an Nile optional thrilling hike to Abuna Yemata The active volcanos of Nyamuragira - the church in the sky! Take a morning heli excursion to theand Danakil Nyiragongo Depression. -
Preliminary Report: Conservation Concerns for the Lalibela Rock Hewn Churches
Preliminary Report: Conservation Concerns for the Lalibela Rock Hewn Churches Dr Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes Curtin University, Australia Version 3, 14 October 2018 1 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 The EU Funded Shelters .......................................................................................................... 11 Conservation Work on the Bete Gabriel-Rafael, Bete Golgotha and Selassie Churches ........ 18 Unanswered Questions on Funding Discrepancies .................................................................. 22 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 25 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 27 References ................................................................................................................................ 30 Appendices ............................................................................................................................... 32 Appendix 1: Letter from the Lalibela Church to UNESCO ................................................. 34 Appendix 2: Letters from the Lalibela Church to Ethiopian Authorities ............................ -
Aspects of St Anna's Cult in Byzantium
ASPECTS OF ST ANNA’S CULT IN BYZANTIUM by EIRINI PANOU A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham January 2011 Acknowledgments It is said that a PhD is a lonely work. However, this thesis, like any other one, would not have become reality without the contribution of a number of individuals and institutions. First of all of my academical mother, Leslie Brubaker, whose constant support, guidance and encouragement accompanied me through all the years of research. Of the National Scholarship Foundation of Greece ( I.K.Y.) with its financial help for the greatest part of my postgraduate studies. Of my father George, my mother Angeliki and my bother Nick for their psychological and financial support, and of my friends in Greece (Lily Athanatou, Maria Sourlatzi, Kanela Oikonomaki, Maria Lemoni) for being by my side in all my years of absence. Special thanks should also be addressed to Mary Cunningham for her comments on an early draft of this thesis and for providing me with unpublished material of her work. I would like also to express my gratitude to Marka Tomic Djuric who allowed me to use unpublished photographic material from her doctoral thesis. Special thanks should also be addressed to Kanela Oikonomaki whose expertise in Medieval Greek smoothened the translation of a number of texts, my brother Nick Panou for polishing my English, and to my colleagues (Polyvios Konis, Frouke Schrijver and Vera Andriopoulou) and my friends in Birmingham (especially Jane Myhre Trejo and Ola Pawlik) for the wonderful time we have had all these years. -
Spaces of Wonder and Devotion: the Thirteenth Century Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia Talia Lieber University of Califo
Spaces of Wonder and Devotion: The Thirteenth Century Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia Talia Lieber University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of Art History Abstract Eleven rock-hewn churches stand beneath the earth at Lalibela in northeastern Ethiopia bearing symbols of the cross. Built under King Lalibela in the thirteenth century, these subterranean churches were carved from monoliths attached to the earth’s base.1 Cruciform motifs decorate the churches, which are home to bronze crosses that devotees process throughout the rock-cut spaces. Crosses, as architectural forms and performative objects, preserve and provoke memories of Ethiopian histories, traditions, and aesthetic practices for Lalibela devotees. First, I explore the emergence of the cross in Ethiopia with the arrival of Christianity in the fourth century during the Aksumite kingdom. Next, I examine the cross motif that is repeatedly carved into the medieval architectural forms of the Lalibela churches, and how devotees’ experiences of descending into the earth and exploring the hollowed spaces echoes the motif’s multi-directionality. I consider how processional crosses of the “Lalibela type” and those found at these churches mirror the architectural forms through the positive and negative spaces of their designs and their reflection of light. By comparing the formal and performative qualities of the cross in both architectural and three-dimensional form, I call attention to the similarities in their production and reception. I aim to understand how Ethiopians adapted the cross motif to preserve memories and provide healing and protection for the present and future. This paper seeks to expand our study of the medieval to include African art and architectural developments, and engage with the topic of the “global” by pointing to how the artistic choices of medieval Ethiopians exemplify the dynamic interaction between local and global traditions that prevailed throughout the premodern world. -
The World Cannot Stand by While Lalibela Becomes the Next Cultural Heritage Site Consumed by Conflict
Op-Ed The World Cannot Stand by While Lalibela Becomes the Next Cultural Heritage Site Consumed by Conflict The UNESCO World Heritage site in Ethiopia has been described as having been "built by angels." Conflict is putting it at risk. Dawit Yehualashet, August 19, 2021 Thousands of pilgrims attend the Orthodox Christmas or Gena ceremony at Bete Mariam (Saint Mary's Church) during Orthodox Christmas/Gena celebrations on January 7, 2019 in Lalibela, Ethiopia. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images) In 2015, the world looked on in horror as the terror group Daesh (ISIS) brought their war to the ancient site of Palmyra. The group proceeded to destroy tombs and temples which have stood for centuries. In addition to these deliberate and barbaric acts, the city was further damaged in the fighting. Even during their retreat, Daesh took the time to blow up parts of the 13th century Palmyra Castle. Despite recent hopes of restoration, around 20-30 percent of the site was severely damaged. Nearly a millennium of history and cultural heritage has been torn down. In Ethiopia, a similar travesty could be about to occur. Recently, even as the media’s attention was fixated on events in Afghanistan, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) moved out of the Tigray region and seized the town of Lalibela in Amhara region. Leaving to one side that this is a blatant act of aggression following the Ethiopian Government’s attempts to secure a ceasefire, the TPLF is threatening a UNESCO World Heritage site with conflict. The risk of damage to and even the destruction of Lalibela cannot be overstated. -
The Sacred City of the Ethiopians, Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893
The sacred city of the Ethiopians, being a record of travel and research in Abyssinia in 1893 http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.CH.DOCUMENT.sip100052 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org The sacred city of the Ethiopians, being a record of travel and research in Abyssinia in 1893 Author/Creator Bent, J. Theodore Date 1896 Resource type Books Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) Horn of Africa, Ethiopia, Axum, Eritrea Source Smithsonian Institution Libraries, DT379 .B47 1896X/916.3 B475s Description Contents. I: Arrival in Ethiopia. II: Stay at Asmara. III: Expedition to the monastery of Bizen. -
Hewn Churches and Its Surroundings, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia
Research Article http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/mejs.v9i2.4 Geological and Geomechanical Properties of Abraha-Atsibha and Wukro rock- hewn churches and its surroundings, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia Asmelash Abay*, Gebreslassie Mebrahtu and Bheemalingeswara Konka School of Earth Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box:231, Mekelle, Ethiopia (*[email protected]). ABSTRACT Globally well-known ancient rock-hewn churches are present in Ethiopia in general and particularly in the central and eastern parts of Tigray regional state. They are important sites of heritage and tourism. Most of them are facing destabilization problem in different degree due to natural and anthropogenic factors. Among the affected, two churches hewn into sandstone located near Abreha-Atsibaha and Wukro (Kirkos/Cherkos church) in Tigray region were chosen for detailed study in terms of geological and engineering geological condition of the rocks in to which they are hewn. Both of them are affected by weathering and seepage. Both are carved into Mesozoic Adigrat sandstone that occupy higher elevations in topography, red in color and with iron and silica-rich alternating bands. Petrographic data suggest that the rock is dominated by quartz followed by feldspars; opaque and heavy minerals; pore spaces and carbonate/iron/silica cement. The rock is characterized by low to medium unconfined compressive strength. The alternating bands with varying mineralogical composition differ in mechanical properties and are responding differently to weathering and erosion. This is resulting in the development of minor spalling, pitting etc in the pillars, walls and roofs of the churches. Keeping the geological condition in view remedial measures are to be planned to minimize deterioration with time. -
Ethiopia and Nubia in Islamic Egypt: Connected Histories of Northeastern Africa Julien Loiseau
Ethiopia and Nubia in Islamic Egypt: Connected Histories of Northeastern Africa Julien Loiseau To cite this version: Julien Loiseau. Ethiopia and Nubia in Islamic Egypt: Connected Histories of Northeastern Africa. Northeast African Studies, Michigan State University Press, 2019, pp.1-8. hal-02909941 HAL Id: hal-02909941 https://hal-amu.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02909941 Submitted on 31 Jul 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Special issue « Ethiopia and Nubia in Islamic Egypt. Connected Histories of Northeastern Africa », J. Loiseau (ed.), Northeastern African Studies 19 (2019): Introduction Ethiopia and Nubia in Islamic Egypt: Connected Histories of Northeastern Africa* Is a global history of northeastern Africa in the Middle Ages achievable? The global Middle Ages have been added to the agenda of medievalists about a decade ago.1 In the case study of northeastern Africa, the long-term history of Christianity in the area alone seems to justify such a challenging undertaking. Christian kingdoms resisted the seventh-century Arab conquests and the pressure of the Islamic empire south of the first cataract of the Nile and maintained their presence in Nubia until the fourteenth century. -
Lalibela Extension Extension Flyer.Pages
LALIBELA EXTENSION: About the Tour Described by some as “The African Jerusalem”, Lalibela is the holy city at the heart of Ethiopia. It is perched on an isolated mountain top, with sweeping vistas of the Ethiopian landscape. Lalibela has both sacred and architectural importance, holding its place alongside the likes of Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat. The eleven rock-hewn churches are simply spectacular, connected by elaborate underground corridors. Each church has a unique architectural style. !1 Itinerary Oct 30th: You will be greeted at the Sheraton hotel and transfered to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. You will enjoy some light sightseeing and check in to your hotel. Meals (D) Oct 31st: Start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (per tradition, entry to Bet Golgotha is only permitted for men). Meals (B,L,D) Nov 1st: Visit Yimrehanne Kristos. The most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, this church is built with layers of wood and granite, set in the entrance to a large cavern. In the afternoon, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George. Meals (B,L,D) Nov 2nd: Visit the nearby monastery of Na’akuto La’ab, set on the side of a cliff. After the visit, proceed to the airport for your return flight back to Addis Ababa and transfered to either the airport or the Sheraton.