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Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Africa,
has a heritage dating back to first century AD. Traders from Greece,
Rome, Persia and Egypt knew of the riches of what is now Ethiopia, and
by the first century AD, Axum was the capital of a great Empire . This
realm became one of the first Christian lands of Africa. Late in the 10th
Century , Axum declined and a new Zagwe dynasty, centred what is now
Lalibela, ruled the land .
Axum, Lalibela and
Gonder now provide our greatest historical legacy. It was in the 16th
Century that the son of the great explorer Vasco Da Gama came to
Ethiopia, but then found a land of many kingdoms and provinces beset by
feuds and War.
Legend has it that Emperor Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and
king Solomon, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to
Axum, where he settled and established one of the world’s longest
known, uninterrupted monarchical dynasties.
This is only one example of Ethiopia’s magnificent history, which
encompasses legend and tradition, mystery and fact, from a powerful and
religious ancient civilization. The well -trodden path through
Ethiopia’s famous and fascinating historic places takes you
through a scenically magnificent world of fairy -tale names, such
as Lalibela, Gondar,
Deber Damo and Bahar Dar.
Several of Ethiopia's more remote areas are excellent for walking
safaris, which are offered by several good tour operators in the
country. Walking tours, best planned for the dry season, offer the
traveller the opportunity for awe-inspiring vantage points from
which to view many of Ethiopia's natural wonders, cultural riches
and architectural heritage. In Gondar, there
are fairytale castles dating back to the 17th century. In Harar,
the visitor can enjoy the incense-flavored mysteries of narrow alleyways
and towering minarets.
In the 19th
Century the great Emperor Menelik led us towards the modern state of
Ethiopia, and the country's passage to modernization began. The
followings are some of our historical attractions.
Axum
Video
sequence Video stream about Axum and
Lalibela
And Axum, Ethiopia's most ancient city and
the capital of the historic Axumite state, is the site of many
remarkable monolithic stone stelae, or obelisks, the three most
important being decorated to represent multi-storied buildings, complete
with doors and windows.
The largest obelisk, which was 35 meters long and weighed 500
tons, is the biggest piece of stone ever cut by humanity anywhere
in the world but today it lies broken on the ground. Near it stands a
smaller but nevertheless most impressive 24-metre-high obelisk - the
pride of Ethiopia. A somewhat larger obelisk was taken to Rome, on
the orders of the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, in 1937.
All three section of
the 1,700-year old Axum obelisk has arrived back
in Ethiopia, 68 years after it was looted by Italian fascists.
It was eventually dismantled into
three pieces in 2004 in preparation for its journey home, an operation
which is costing Italy an estimated 6 million euros (£4.1 million).
The monument
is due to be re-erected after the rainy season.
Axum, in its day, was a great commercial
centre, issuing its own currency and trading with Egypt, Arabia, Persia,
India and even Ceylon. The settlement was also the site of
Ethiopia's oldest church, which dated back to the coming of Christianity
as the state religion, early in the 4th Century. The original
building has long since disappeared but a structure erected on its site
by Emperor Fasiladas in the early 17th Century is still there. A nearby
outhouse is the reputed repository of the biblical Ark of the
Covenant. This historic relic cannot be seen but visitors there can see
and photograph a number of the remarkable crowns that belonged to
several notable Ethiopian monarchs of the past.
Just out of the town, the remains of an early Axumite palace,
popularly thought to have belonged to the Queen of Sheba, are well worth
a visit. The remains are located at Dangur, near the mountain from which
the obelisks were originally excavated. The beautifully worked
tombs of several ancient Axumite rulers and the local
archaeological museum are also worth a visit. About 45 per cent of the
Ethiopian population is Muslim. Most of the Christians belonging to the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose 4th Century beginnings came long before
Europe accepted Christianity. A further small percentage of the
population adheres to traditional and other beliefs, including Judaism.
Lalibela
Lalibela, a medieval settlement in the
Lasta area of Wallo, lies at the centre of an extensive complex of rock
churches. Some can be reached by one or two hours' drive, others
are a full day's journey. Lalibela has 11 remarkable rock-hewn
monolithic churches, believed to have been built by King Lalibela in the
late 12th or early 13th Century. These notable structures are carved,
inside and out, into the solid rock, and are considered to be
among the wonders of the world. Each building is architecturally
unique but each reflects beautifully executed craftsmanship, and
several are decorated with fascinating paintings. These
astonishing edifices remain places of living worship to this day.
Addis Ababa
With a population of more than two million people,
Addis Ababa is not only the political
capital but also the economic and social nerve-centre of Ethiopia.
Founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887, this big, sprawling, hospitable city
still bears the stamp of his exuberant personality. More than
21,000 hectares in area, Addis Ababa is
situated in the foothills of the 3,000-metre Entoto Mountains and
rambles pleasantly across many wooded hillsides and gullies cut
with fast-flowing streams.
Wide, tree-lined streets, fine architecture, glorious weather and the
incongruity of donkey trains along the boulevards make Addis Ababa
a city of surprises and a delightful place to explore. The clear
mountain air gives the city the bracing atmosphere of a summer
highland resort. It enjoys a mild climate, with an average
temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
Addis Ababa stands at the very heart of
Ethiopia and there is much to do and to see. The city has a
flourishing cultural life, with regular exhibitions and lectures. There
are many opportunities to experience Ethiopian music, song and dance, to
visit museums and to see the city sights.
The Horticultural Society and Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural
History Society both organize visits to local gardens and trips out into
the countryside.
And after all that, what better than to sample some of Ethiopia's
culinary delights? Injera, a large, soft, pancake-like crepe,
forms the basis of most Ethiopian meals, served with a communal tray on
which are a tempting array of spicy sauces. Also
distinctive is the Ethiopian traditional drink, tej, a honey wine,
or mead. Traditional restaurants abound in
Addis Ababa, and offer entertainment in the form of the ubiquitous
massinko minstrels and traditional dance troupes. There are also
many other specialist restaurants in the city, including Chinese,
Italian, French, Indian, Armenian, Arabic and Greek.
Debre Damo
Some 76 Kilometers
from Axum is the monastery of Debre Damo ( closed
to Women), which is said to have the oldest existing intact church in
Ethiopia. Local tradition says that Abune Aregawi, one of the nine
Saints, built the church in the 16th Century. The Monastery
of Debre Damo can only be reached by rope pulley.
Yeha
Some 55 km east of
Axum is the 5th Century BC temple of Yeha. Its massive walls
house Judaic relics and historic artefact.
Bahar Dar
Bahar Dar is a small
town set on the south - eastern shore of lake Tana, where local
fishermen still use papyrus boats, and just 30 km from the spectacular
Tissisat Falls. Here the Blue Nile creates " Smoking Water" an
awe-inspiring sight as it plunges into the gorge below.
From Bahar Dar one
must explore some of the ancient monasteries that have been built around
Lake Tana, or on the many Islands. These include Dek Stephanos with its
priceless collections of icons, as well as the remains of several
medieval emperors, Kebran Gabriel and Ura Kidane Mehret with its famous
frescoes. The colorful local market at Bahir Dar is renowned for its
weavers and wood workers.
Gonder
Gonder was the 17th Century capital of Ethiopia, and is
notable for its medieval Castles and churches. The City's unique
imperial compound contains a number of Castles built between 1632 and
1855 by the various Emperors who reigned during this period. These
dramatic castles, unlike any other African, display a richness in
architecture that reveals the Axumite traditions as well as the
influence of Arabia.
Other treasure of
Gonder include the 18th Century palace of Ras Beit, the bath
of Fasilades, the reuined palace of Kusquam, and the church of Debre
Berhane Selassie with its unique murals.
Mekelle
Although Lalibela is
unique, it is not the sole site of Ethiopia's famous rock-hewn churches.
In Tigray near Mekelle, over 200 fine example
of these monuments to man's devotion to God as well as his building
skills, may be seen and visited.
The Capital of the
emperor Yohannnes IV (1871 - 1889), Mekelle is
now the main town of Tigray, the most northern Ethiopian region. The
emperor's palace has been turned into a particular interesting museum,
with many exhibits of his time and subsequent history. The town is also
well known as a transit point for the Camel Caravans bringing salt up
from the arid lands of the Danakil Depression. This makes the market
palace a particular interesting place to visit. Intrepid visitors can
also make excursions into the Danakil to visit some of the Afar nomads
that trek across the region.
Harar
The city of
Harar is an ancient (1520) and holy city. Always
an important trading centre, the city is famous for its ancient
buildings, its great city walls and as a centre of learning muslim
scholarship ( the town has 99 mosques). The city is well known for its
superb handicrafts that include woven textiles, basketware, silverware
and handsomely bound books, Harar has
been a place of pilgrimage from all over the world for many years.
Harar's attractions
are:
- The City Walls
The City Walls, and
the narrow streets lined with traditional Harari gegar houses.
- Rimbaud House
A Fine building
traditional house dating from the period when the French poet Rimbaud
lived in Harar.
- The Hyena Man
As evening falls,
local men attract wild hyenas to the city in a bizarre spectacle as they
bravely feed these dangerous scavengers.
The Ethiopian experience is one that offers something for
everyone. Truly, there is no other place on earth quite like it.
Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa is city in Harar region, Ethiopia. It is a
commercial and industrial center located on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti
railroad. Manufactures include processed meat, vegetable oil, textiles,
and cement. There are also railroad workshops in the city. Dire Dawa was
founded in 1902 when the railroad from Djibouti reached the area, and
its growth has resulted largely from trade brought by the railroad.
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