Despite Yemrehanna Kristos being such an extraordinary site, very few people reward themselves with a visit. And a reward it is for this location is beautiful, the priest is friendly and there are even piles of dead bodies to see. The church is about an hour and a half from Lalibela by 4WD. Yemrehanna Kristos … Continue reading
Although smaller in size than the northwestern group, the southeastern cluster offers not only one of Lalibela’s most finely carved churches, but also a touch of intrigue with various historians debating whether some churches had pasts as prisons and palaces. Before I proceed though… I received a couple of emails in response to my previous … Continue reading
Resting all on its own, south and west of the northwestern and southeastern groups of churches, is what is perhaps Lalibela’s most interesting church, Bet Giyorgis. Representing the apogee of the rock-hewn tradition, the Bet Giyorgis is the most visually perfect church in Lalibela – a 15m-high three-tiered plinth in the shape of a Greek … Continue reading
As mentioned previously, I shall allow my last post on the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to serve as a segue into a discussion of Lalibela itself. And, frankly, I found Lalibela and its environs more interesting than the churches the town is famous for. A little background: Lalibela (also known as Lalibala) was the most … Continue reading
Lalibela, initially known as Roha, was the Zagwe dynasty’s capital in the 12th and 13th centuries. After the death of King Lalibela, the ruler credited with the construction of the churches, the town was named after him. In an unusual consensus, scholars and local tradition agree that the churches date from around King Lalibela’s reign … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 