Gishen Mariam
Yearly on October 1” is celebrated St. Marry’s day in Gishen Mariam.
It is such a historical cross-shaped landscape. The 15th century
Ethiopian king, Emperor Zerea-Yaekob is said to have brought the
piece of the “True Cross” here. Thousands of pilgrims come here to
commemorate the occasion. You have to drive west of Dessie and mount
the zig-zag road after crossing the Bishlo River to reach here.
(Tour itinerary)
Ahmed AL Negash
Among the most popular Muslim Shrines, the tomb and the mosque of
Ahmed Al Negash is worth seeing. Negash is known as the Earliest
Muslim settlement in Africa; a seventh Century cemetery has been
excavated inside the village boundaries. It is located in Geralta,
Tigray Province. This Saint is believed to have been the friends of
the Prophet Mohammed. His shrine is comparable to Mecca serves as a
pilgrimage center.
Yeha
Yeha is situated in the northern mountainous section of the Tigray
region. Although today this small settlement survives as a shanty
town, it was once a site of great pre-Axumite civilization.
Believed to be Ethiopia’s first capital, Yeha was first uncovered in a complex archeological excavation around a courtyard at the beginning of the 20th century. The first settlers of this area, the Sabeans, were the founders of the Axumite kingdom.
The temple of Yeha, with one side of its walls in ruin, is otherwise still itact and testifies to the advanced level of the people of those times. There is no trace of mortar being used to build the temple of which the inside of the walls was believed to be have been paved with gold.
The archeological excavations made in 1909, 1947 and 1973
respectively, reveal that this beautiful temple was destroyed by
fire. Treasures such as gold rings, golden lions, stone –engraved
inscriptions written in Sabean, stone-carved animals like the Waliya
Ibex (one of Ethiopia’s endemic mammals), pottery works and others
were uncovered. Some of these findings are displayed in the 4th
century church museum found in the same compound as the temple while
others are displayed at the National Museum in Addis Abeba. The
twelve underground formations and four other very deep cave
structures (which seem to lead to Yemen, Lalibela, Jerusalem and
Axum), increase the area’s importance in terms of both archeological
research and tourism. (Tour itinerary)
Debre Damo Monastery
The ancient monastery of Debre-Damo dates back to early Axumite
period and is considered to be the oldest church in the country.
Unlike other monasteries and churches, Debre-Damo is built on the
edge of a cliff accessible only by a rope. The relic, 2800m above
see level lies 184 km far from Mekelle and 41 km from Adigrat towns.
The flat-topped “Amba” (plateau) is surrounded by sheer cliffs. A
scent to the mountain top is only possible by using the 15m plaited
leather rope (the “Jende”) that is hanging down from the summit. The
church is dedicated to its founder, Abune Aregawi (Zemikal), one of
the ‘nine saints’ who taught gospel in the country in the 6th
century. According to local tradition, Abune Aregawi is believed to
have been taken to the top of the Amba with the help of a serpent
that was commanded to do so by God. Today the ‘Jende’ symbolizes the
miraculous serpent. Visitors need to be tightly tied up around their
waists by the supplementary rope as a means of additional safety.
Female visitors are not allowed to the church.
The monastery of Debre Damo possesses many treasures including
ancient manuscripts, crosses, etc. visiting the monastery
emotionally takes you back to the distant past of Ethiopian
religious life, or as Professor Richard Pankhurst rightly concludes,
“it takes today’s traveler into a past age and leave him with a
deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s age old and unique civilization
than mere words can give.” (Tour itinerary)
The Monastery of Gunda Gundo
The monastery of Gunda Gundo accessed from the town of Edagaahamus,
100 km after Mekelle, has an area that lies between a sheer side
cliff in the west and an escarpment that drops towards the Afar
depression.
The monastery has a church that bears its name Mariam Gunda Gundo, devoted to St. Marry. The church, the combination of tow old mud houses consists of four cruciform pillars and 12 arches.
The aging –church is well noted for its time-honored parchment,
crosses and crowns. Its annual festival occurs every year on Tir
21/Jan 29 or 30 most of the time/. (Tour itinerary)
The Palace of Aba Jiffar
The palace of Aba Jifar is one of the most significance cultural
attractions in Western Ethiopia. The palace is situated on the
mountain top, north of the town of Jimma, and from here visitors can
take a panoramic viewof the town and the surrounding mountain
chains. The palace is built of wood and wooden material. Jimma
museum, which is at the center of the town houses different
traditional equipments of the region, such as furniture, and dresses
of Aba Jiffar.
Haiq Estifanos
It is found north of Dessie (in Wello). The famous church was so
popular with religious scholars and great contributors to the
reformation of the Solomonic dynasty in Lalibela in the 13th
century. Only monks are serving and living in it. The monastery
preserves wooden and stone relics of the days of its foundation.
Meqdela
Meqdela is a place were Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia committed
suicide in 1868, after being defeated by the troops sent by Queen
Victoria of United Kingdom. Besides its beautiful scenery, one can
visit the Sebastopol cannon, the old church and his grave yard. This
is one of the best places for both trekkers and for history studies.
Sheik Hussein
This religious shrine in Bale province, located on the edge of the
Wabe Shebele river gorge, is considered by Ethiopian Muslims as the
second Mecca. Muslim pilgrimages gather from all over the country,
usually in March and April for prayer, to partake in a ceremony
organized in memory of their religious leader, who taught and
preached Islam at this very site 800 years ago. (Tour itinerary)
Sof Omar Cave
Sof Omar natural cave located 120 kilometers east of Goba in Bale
region, is the most spectacular and extensive underground caverns in
the world formed by the Web River, which made a course through the
limestone hills. The river forms relatively long underground water
with halls and columns of limestone inside the cave. The cave is
considered as one of the world’s most extensive underground caverns
for a distance of one and half kms. The dry, cool caves contain many
marvels of natural architecture, including soaring pillars of stone
20 meters high, flying buttresses, fluted archways and tall airy
vaults. Finally the river itself is reached, flowing through a deep
gorge. The Sof Omar cave is an enchanting place for adventure
tourists, geomorphologies and cave scientists. There are over 15kms
of associated passages, which require skill, time and special
equipment for a full exploration. You can explore the caves on foot,
without special climbing equipment, but proper precautions have to
be taken. Torches or other lighting are needed and another must is a
map. However, a friendly local guide will show you enough to take
your breath away and make the trip worthwhile, for an hour or for as
long as you care to spend. The most direct route through the first
part of the caves takes about an hour. The large central hall of Sof
Omar, the ‘Chamber of Columns’- so named after the colossal
limestone pillars that are it’s dominant feature- is one of the
highlights of the cave system.
A cool dip in the clear river afterwards refreshes you for the
return drive. Sof Omar is also a place of worship for Ethiopian
Muslims. (Tour itinerary)
Lake Tana Monasteries & Bahir Dar: Ethiopia’s Lake Tana is the
source of the fabled Blue Nile River and that the Lake is dotted
with island monasteries. Because of their isolation they were used
to store medieval art treasures and religious relics from all parts
of the country. Such as Kibran Gebriel,Church of Ura Kidane Meheret,
Narga Sellassie, Dega Estifanos, etc.
Tis isat Falls(Blue Nile Falls); a sight which inspired the 18th
Century Explorer Robert Bruce to Say “…Fall in one sheet of water,
without any interval, above half an English Mile in breadth, with a
force and a noise that was truly terrible, which stunned and made me
for a time perfectly dizzy”
Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, and Tis isat Falls
Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake, stretching 52 miles in length
and covering some 1400 square miles in West Gondar.
At 5700 feet altitude it is nearly surrounded by chains of extinct
volcanic mountains. Dozens of small streams feed Tana, including the
Blue Nile(Abay), which originates in a swamp called Ghish Abbai,
about 85 km southwest of the lake. Some say that this swamp is the
actual source of the Abbai or Blue Nile, which is Tana’s main
outlet.
Tana is teeming with fish, with some catfish weighing up to 30
pounds. Birds also abandon especially pelican, ibis, stork,
cormorant, fish eagle, kite, hornbill, starling, and weaver species.
Bahir dar does not itself have a lot to offer tourists other than its picturesque market and its excellent view of the lake and head of the Abbai (Blue Nile) from the Imperial Villa 8 km east of town.
The biggest attraction, however, is nearby Tisisat falls, which are about 35 km due south of Bahir dar, En route you pass typical tukuls, round huts whose walls are made of cow dung, grass, and clay whose pointed roof is formed from strong grass. The falls best live up to their reputation during September- December, after the heavy rains have swollen the lake and river. The falls’ three characters together do stretch half a mile across, and the divided river bed plunges down in two stages nearly 140 feet, creating, indeed, when the river is high, a deafening , “smoking:, misty waterfall. In the distance are the chains of mountains forming a beautiful backdrop, and lush vegetation lines the riverbank and gorges sheltering pythons, monkeys, and colorful birds.
Lake Tana’s second attraction is its 30 or so islands with their
churches and monasteries. Most of Tana’s monasteries were founded in
or just after the 14th century, several under Emperor Amda Tseyon
(1314-44). The monasteries protected the libraries and treasuries of
the imperial churches, especially during the invasions of Muslims
led by Gragn(the left-handed) from Harar.
Today several of the islands can be visited and their churches and
treasures admired, though on some women are unfortunately forbidden
entrance. The island monastery closest to Bahir Dar is Debre Mariam,
built during Amda Tseyon’s reign, rebuilt by king Tewodros II
(1855-68). Now a large but unimpressive straw hut, it was once a
famous monastery with 50 churches under it. The church owns a
manuscripts of the Tetra-Gospels, once of the oldest
hand-illustrated Ethiopian manuscripts, that dates around 1360-1380.
Kebran Gabriel Island is about 40 minutes by boat from Bahir dar,
and is one of those closed to women,. The church, first built in the
early 14th century, was reconstructed in red stone in the late 17th
century by Iyasu the Great” for love of the Angel Gabriel because he
had been his guardian angel since his infancy.” The cubed sanctuary,
which inside has many different painting styles, on the outside is
encircled by 12 stone pillars, each symbolizing an apostle. Nearby
is the tower of Iqa-beit, which houses a 50 volume library,
including other manuscripts of Tetra-Gospels, this one dating from
about 1420 and contains 36 illuminated pages about the four
evangelists, 13 pages of the Canons of Eusebius, and 19 pages on the
life of Christ.
Zeghie Peninsula, 1 ½ hours by water from Bahir Dar, has a good
Friday market, coffee and gesho(used to make tej) growing wild, and
Uhra Kidane Mehret, a17th century monastery church, with its vivid
“recent” paintings. The large island of Dek, 3 ½ hours from Bahir
dar, has several churches and semi-mummified remains of king
Fasiledes and his infant son in an open sepulcher. One church,
Arsima Sematat, named after St. Ripsime, a virgin martyr who was
stripped naked and beheaded along with her 27 companions by order of
King Dertades, has a manuscript from 1430. On nearby wooded Nargha a
stone walkway, is joined to Dek’s western shore in the dry season by
a season by as tone walk away, is Selassie Church, built by Queeen
Mentwab in 1746 and featuring a portrait of her lying at the feet of
the Virgin mary. Also near Dek is Daga
Estifanos Island with its perfectly conical hill and its monastery
of Daga on top-no female of any species are allowed near.
Mariam Ghemb Sysenyos is an hour west of Gorgora, Tana;s northern
town, and at its crest are the ruins of the castle and cathedral,
built along the lines of a European Covent for the Portuguese
Jesuits during Emperor Susenious reign (1607-320). Debre Sina is in
Gorgora near the landing pier, and its paintings have been preserved
since commissioned by the queen of Iyasu the Great (1682-1706).
(Tour itinerary)
Prehistoric Paintings
In Ethiopia prehistoric man left a wealth of cave paintings!
Ethiopia with its varied relief and its variety of climates offered
a home to man during all the periods of his development. Early man
was also an artist of considerable ability. Vivid drawings of daily
life are to be found in caves in several places in southern
Ethiopia, particularly in limestone caves at the bottom of the
escarpment to the west of Dire Dawa. That some of these paintings,
like those near to Dire Dawa, have been dated as being 40,000 years
old. Form these early beginnings painting become a major art form in
ancient and medieval Ethiopia. Parchment scrolls dating back to the
11th century can still be seen in Ethiopia’s museums, churches and
monasteries. Contemporary Ethiopian artists are building upon this
rich tradition and moving with it into today’s art scene.
Wonchi Crater Lake
The beautiful Wonchi crater-lake located 32 km south west of Ambo is
the most spectacular natural scenery near to Addis Ababa. Evergreen
chains of mountain peaks surrounded the lake. The hot spring at the
foot of the mountain, the peninsula and the islands in the lake are
some of the striking features.
Dallol and Mount Erta Ale
Dallol is at the northern most extension of the Great Rift Valley.
It acts like a cauldron, trapping all the heat. Dallol is a field of
phreatic craters in the salt plain northeast of the Erta Ale Range
in one of the lowest and hottest areas of the desolate Danakil
depression and home to the Afar people. Colorful hot brine springs
and fumaroles deposits are found in the Dallol area. This is special
because it is one of the lowest points on earth not covered by
water. There are hot yellow sulfur fields among the sparkling white
salt beds.
Mount Erta ale is the world’s only active land volcano with colored
landscapes, incredible mineral deposits, sulphur lakes and bubbling
sulphur springs. These are sights not to be missed by the
adventurous tourists.
Yemrehanna Krestos (“Christ shows us the way”)
This remarkable church is located six hours by foot and mule to the
northeast of Lalibela, on the mountain ridge the peak of which is
Abuna Yosef. It is a built-up cave church in Axumite wood and stone
construction. The church has become famous for the decoration of its
interior. The flat-spa roof displays paneling richly adorned with
geometrical designs. Note the beautiful coffer ceiling with inlaid
hexagons and medallions with either figurative of geometric motifs.
The ceiling over the sanctuary is domed and displays carvings and
paintings. The founder of the church is said to have been king
Yemrehanna Krestos, a predecessor of king Lalibela.
Arbatu Entzessa (The Four animals/beasts)
Arbatu Enttzessa can be reached from Yemrehanna Krestos proceeding
to the southwest. This tiny monolithic sanctuary is detached from
the surrounding rock on two sides. It shows remains of old
ornaments; pillars, capitals nad doors are chiseled in Axumite
style. The name suggests that the church is dedicated to the “four
beasts”, symbols of the Four Evangelists following the vision of St.
John. The Ethiopian synaxarium dedicates the 8th of Hedar (November)
to these four beasts.
Bilbala Giorgis (St. George in the Bilbala district)
Proceeding from Arbatu Entzessa to the west you find Bilbala
Giorgis, of which only the façade is visible. The other sides are
surrounded by a tunnel: the roof is not separated from the rock. A
frieze with emblems of the vault of heaven decorates the façade.
Legend says that holy bees live under the roof in niches.
Bilbala Cherqos (Kyrikos in the Bilbala District)
West of Bilbala Giorgis you find this semi-monolithic church, which,
as a matter of fact, can be reached in the Bilbala district one
day’s travel by mule to the northwest of Lalibela. The church is
properly orientated and has been worked from a piece tuff from east
to west. The careful stone masonry on the façade is reminiscent of
the façade of Bet Gabriel-Rufa’el and the admirable murals depicting
saints and the Evangelists in the interior are of particular
interest to the visitor.
Sarsana Mika’el (St. Michael of Sarsana district)
The most western church of this tour is this tiny monolithic church,
lying in a grove of euphorbia trees in the Sarsana plains and
scarcely visible in its bed of rock. Through aa passage you reach a
deep trench running round the church. Three sides are exposed
revealing influences of the Axumite style. Next to a door the
priests will show you a dark block of stone which is said to kill
sinners on the spot once they touch it. Another legend is connected
with the torrent nearby; a big snake is said to live there which has
devoured four sinners during the last hundred years.
Makina Medhane Alem (Redeemer of the world in Makina)
Like Yemrehanna Krestos, Makina Medhane Alem is a built-up cave
church in Axumite style. It is east of Lalibela, set in a huge
gaping cavern on the eastern slopes of Makina, a spur of Abuna
Yosef. You may teach it by two hours climb above Gennata Maryam(see
below). Although an example of Axumite wood and stone construction
the church exhibits a unique modification: polished wall sections of
leveled-off rubble between layers of dressed blocks of reddish tuff.
The interior has rich painted decoration displaying geometric motifs
as well as figurative ones. You may admire the portrayals of saints
as well as the sun and the moon symbols above the main entrance. A
lovely little picture of fighting cocks next to the sun gives
glimpse into the interest of the painter for details.
Gennata Maryam (The Paradise of Mary)
Gennata Maryam is near the 90km point on the track from Kobbo or
Waldiya to Lalibela. It can be reached from Lalibela either by one
hour’s drive or by four hours ride. Gennata Maryam is a true
monolithic rock church on a high plinth. Unlike the Lalibela
churches which are hidden in their pits this church is not
surrounded by the walls of a trench: you may see it from far away- a
block of pink tuff in the midst of green euphorbia’s and opuntias.
Like Medhane Alem it has a colonnade of rectangular pillars. Note
the fine reliefs of Latin crosses in blind arcades on the top of the
pitched roof. In the interior the rich painting displays a style
which might be described as “archaic”. Authorities claim that they
originate from the thirteenth century, the probable period of
creation for that church. The range of colors is limited: brown,
ochre, green and a shining light blue. Motifs include saints from
the Coptic synaxarium as well as angels, the sun and the moon and
crosses of various shapes that we find so often in this area.