Page 49 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 17

2 History

1) The fortress-city of Fasil-Ghebbi in North
Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
manuel); 2) Aksumite monolithic obelisks 6th-7th century
• Biete Qeddus Mercoreus 3) Lalibela Church carved out of rock in Lali-
(House of St. Mercoreos); bela, under the reign of King Lalibela.
• Biete Abba Libanos (House of 4) Interior of one of the Lalibela churches.
Abbot Libanos); 5) Atse Yohannes IV’s palace, built in the
• Biete Gabriel Raphael (House 1870s,
of Gabriel Raphael);
• Biete Lehem (House of Holy 4
Bread); and
• Biete Ghiorgis (House of St.
George) which is connected
to the others by a system of
trenches.

Biete Medhani Alem is thought to
be the largest monolithic church in
the world.

The fortress-city of Fasil-Ghebbi
in North Gondar, Amhara Region,
celebrated for its complexity in
architecture, it was the stronghold
of Emperor Fasiledes and his de-
scendants. Fasiledes is said to draw
his lineage from that of the House
of Solomon. Within the palace 3
compound are found: the Castle
of Emperor Fasiledes, the Castle
of Emperor Iyasu, the Library of
Tzadich Yohannes; the Chancellery
of Tzadich Yohannes; the Castle
of Emperor David, the Palace of
Mentuab and Banqueting Hall of
the Emperor Bekaffa. Around the
city of Gondar are found: the Debre
Berhan Selassie (Monastery and
church); the Bath of Fasiledes; Kid-
dush Yohannes; Qusquam (Mon-
astery and Church); Thermal Area;
the Sosinios (also known as Maryam
Ghemb); the Gorgora (Monastery
and Church) and the Palace of Gu- 5
zara. The fortress was surrounded
by a wall 900 meters long, with 12
entrances and 3 bridges.

Other examples of great Ethiopi-
an architecture are Atse Yohannes
IV’s palace, built in the 1870s, Dejat
Abraha’s castle, built around 1906,
among others.

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