Lockdown Reflections 2 – The Historic North of Ethiopia

Africa, photography 1 Minute
Traditional Amhara music on the shores of Lake Tana, Bahir Dar

The capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa sits pretty much in the centre of Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa (New Flower in English) was created as the capital by King Menelik II, the creator of modern Ethiopia, in 1886

North of Addis Ababa to the Eritrean border and to the Danakil Depression is termed the Historical North

It is the area which has most interaction with European culture and hence a region that is significantly Christian with cities that formed as their capitals.

It is also where we find Aksum the centre of the Kingdom of Aksum with a history reaching back to 4 BC

Ethiopian history extends from the Iron Age to Rastafarianism and beyond to much for this blog but worth a exploration.

Aksum

The Stelae of Axum are monuments to past Kings of Aksum the largest and most impressive from the 3rd and 4th century AD.

Some of the simpler Stelae are older

A short drive from Aksum is Yeha

The Lion of Yeha providing an geological marker

The remains of the Temple of Yeha is Ethiopia’s oldest standing structure. Estimated to be built in 700 BC

In the nearby monastery there are relics from Pagan times reflecting times when The Ibex and the sun and moon were sacred

And beautifully illustrated Christian manuscripts

Lalibella

Lalibella is a medieval city famous for its rock hewn churches built around the 12th century by the then King Lalibella.

There are 11 rock hewn churches in Lalibella

The most famous of which is the Church of St George (below)

The churches are also noted for their rock star clergy

Aksum and Lallibella are considered the most holy sites in Ethiopia and both are UNESCO world heritage listed and as such are the highlights of the Historic North of Ethiopia

Gondar is the stepping off city to explore the Simien Mountains and has its own treasures – in churches

and in the Castle

Bahar Dar is rounds out the main stops in the Historic North

With the beautiful Lake Tana which is the source of the Blue Nile

These are reflections of years past travelling in my mind during the Covid -19 lockdown in Melbourne

Reflective travelling in my mind!

Published by a piecemeal adventurer

A lover of travel, nature, and the environment. A sailor and a motorcyclist

Published

7 thoughts on “Lockdown Reflections 2 – The Historic North of Ethiopia”

  2. Kym Gordon Moore – Kym Gordon Moore is a marketing and communications professional who holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. She has over 30+ years of combined experiences in part, but not limited to multi-media writing accreditations, developing and directing brand marketing communications for small businesses and corporate senior-level executives, leading and developing corporate social media strategies, successfully creating and launching B2C and B2B newsletter marketing campaigns, developing community outreach partnerships, creating and distributing corporate press releases, and tracking ecommerce and web analytics. She holds certifications that include HubSpot Academy Inbound Marketing, Google Analytics Platform, My Media Tutor Spokesperson Ready, Leveraging Vendor Relations and Marketing Experiments Email Marketing. Her computer competencies involve working with software applications in Microsoft Office and Navision, CandyPress, Word press, Google Analytics, ExactTarget/Salesforce programs and GIMP. Kym is the author of Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry, Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit, and a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom. She mentors young and aspiring poets and volunteers to facilitate poetry forums. Her mission is to use poetry as a platform to foster greater awareness in the fight against illiteracy and aliteracy, by introducing elements of poetic diversity and education among children and adults.
    Kym Gordon Moore says:

    What an incredible, memorable, and historical trip you have documented. I was so fascinated when I watched a short documentary about Lalibela and the amazing story of the subterranean rock-carved churches that serve as sacred pilgrimage sites. Oh, how I wished I could have visited there, but you have taken some amazing journeys to some phenomenal places which are irreplaceable memories to reflect on for years to come! 🙂

    Reply
      1. Kym Gordon Moore – Kym Gordon Moore is a marketing and communications professional who holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. She has over 30+ years of combined experiences in part, but not limited to multi-media writing accreditations, developing and directing brand marketing communications for small businesses and corporate senior-level executives, leading and developing corporate social media strategies, successfully creating and launching B2C and B2B newsletter marketing campaigns, developing community outreach partnerships, creating and distributing corporate press releases, and tracking ecommerce and web analytics. She holds certifications that include HubSpot Academy Inbound Marketing, Google Analytics Platform, My Media Tutor Spokesperson Ready, Leveraging Vendor Relations and Marketing Experiments Email Marketing. Her computer competencies involve working with software applications in Microsoft Office and Navision, CandyPress, Word press, Google Analytics, ExactTarget/Salesforce programs and GIMP. Kym is the author of Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry, Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit, and a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom. She mentors young and aspiring poets and volunteers to facilitate poetry forums. Her mission is to use poetry as a platform to foster greater awareness in the fight against illiteracy and aliteracy, by introducing elements of poetic diversity and education among children and adults.
        Kym Gordon Moore says:

        Indeed my friend! Peace. 🙂

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