ethiopian history in amharic pdf bible coloring

For example, while Buxton notes the existence of a tradition that Abyssinians invoked the aid of foreigners to construct these monolithic churches, and admits that there are clearly signs of Coptic influence in some decorative details (hardly surprising given the theological, ecclesiastical, and cultural links between the Orthodox Tewahedo and Coptic Orthodox Churches), he is adamant about the native origins of these creations: But the significant fact remains that the rock-churches continue to follow the style of the local built-up prototypes, which themselves retain clear evidence of their basically Axumite origin. 15 The churches are also a significant engineering feat, given that they are all associated with water (which fills the wells next to many of the churches), exploiting an artesian geological system that brings the water up to the top of the mountain ridge on which the city rests. 16 Vernacular architecture edit In a 1970 report of the historic dwellings of Lalibela, Sandro Angelini evaluated the vernacular earthen architecture on the Lalibela World Heritage Site, including the characteristics of the traditional earth houses and analysis of their state of conservation.

The whole of Lalibela is a large antiquity of the medieval and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia.

Lalibela is one of Ethiopias holiest cities, second only to Axum, and a center of pilgrimage.

Unlike Axum, the population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian.

It begins with an angel visiting Philip, telling him to go south from Jerusalem to Gaza.

There he sees a eunuch, a court official of the Queen of Ethiopia, who had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home, seated in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.

Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity in the first half of the fourth century, and its historical roots date to the time of the Apostles.

The churches themselves date from the seventh to thirteenth centuries, and are traditionally dated to the reign of the Zagwe king Gebre Mesqel Lalibela (r.

The layout and names of the major buildings in Lalibela are widely accepted, especially by local clergy, to be a symbolic representation of Jerusalem.

This has led some experts to date the current church forms to the years following the capture of Jerusalem in 1187 by the Muslim leader Saladin.

Lalibela is located in the North Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, at roughly 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level.

It is the main town in Lasta woreda, which was formerly part of Bugna woreda.

The Rock-Hewn Churches were declared a World Heritage site in 1978.

History edit During the reign of Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, a member of the Zagwe dynasty who ruled Ethiopia in the late 12th century and early 13th century, the current town of Lalibela was known as Roha.

The saint-king was named because a swarm of bees is said to have surrounded him at his birth, which his mother took as a sign of his future reign as emperor of Ethiopia.

The names of several places in the modern town and the general layout of the rock-cut churches themselves are said to mimic names and patterns observed by Lalibela during the time he spent as a youth in Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

Lalibela, revered as a saint, is said to have seen Jerusalem, and then attempted to build a new Jerusalem as his capital in response to the capture of old Jerusalem by Muslims in 1187.

Each church was carved from a single piece of rock to symbolize spirituality and humility.

Christian faith inspires many features with Biblical names even Lalibelas river is known as the River Jordan.

Lalibela remained the capital of Ethiopia from the late 12th into the 13th century.

The first European to see these churches was the Portuguese explorer Pro da Covilh (14601526).

Portuguese priest Francisco lvares (14651540), accompanied the Portuguese Ambassador on his visit to Dawit II in the 1520s.

He describes the unique church structures as follows: I weary of writing more about these buildings, because it seems to me that I shall not be believed if I write more.

I swear by God, in Whose power I am, that all I have written is the truth.

Ethiopian Orthodox priests holding a procession in Lalibela Although Ramuso included plans of several of these churches in his 1550 printing of lvares book, who supplied the drawings remains a mystery.

According to the Futuh al-Habaa of Sihab ad-Din Ahmad, Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi burned one of the churches of Lalibela during his invasion of Ethiopia.

However, Richard Pankhurst has expressed his skepticism about this event, pointing out that although Sihab ad-Din Ahmad provides a detailed description of a rock-hewn church (It was carved out of the mountain.

Though the dating of the churches is not well established, most are thought to have been built during the reign of Lalibela, namely during the 12th and 13th centuries.

Unesco identifies 11 churches, 1 assembled in four groups: The Northern Group: Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), home to the Lalibela Cross.

Farther afield, lie the monastery of Ashetan Maryam and Yemrehana Krestos Church (possibly eleventh century, built in the Aksumite fashion, but within a cave).

There is some controversy as to when some of the churches were constructed.

David Buxton established the generally accepted chronology, noting that two of them follow, with great fidelity of detail, the tradition represented by Debra Damo as modified at Yemrahana Kristos.

On the other hand, local historian Getachew Mekonnen credits Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, Lalibelas queen, with having one of the rock-hewn churches, Biete Abba Libanos, built as a memorial for her husband after his death.

Contrary to claims made by pseudoarchaeologist writers like Graham Hancock, Buxton states the great rock-hewn churches of Lalibela were not built with the help of the Knights Templar; asserting abundant evidence exists to show that they were produced solely by medieval Ethiopian civilization.

The churches are also a significant engineering feat, given that they are all associated with water (which fills the wells next to many of the churches), exploiting an artesian geological system that brings the water up to the top of the mountain ridge on which the city rests.

Vernacular architecture edit In a 1970 report of the historic dwellings of Lalibela, Sandro Angelini evaluated the vernacular earthen architecture on the Lalibela World Heritage Site, including the characteristics of the traditional earth houses and analysis of their state of conservation.

Ethiopian History In Amharic Pdf Bible Coloring