Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

rug

(82,333 posts)
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 09:03 AM Apr 2013

Heritage Project Announced for Religious Ethiopian Site



Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela. Image Credit: Traveling Heart Project

By Jemilla Russell-Clough
Published on 08 April 2013

The Ethiopian Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH) has announced a new heritage project for a region of northern Ethiopia in an attempt to preserve a sacred pilgrimage site.

The project will aim to preserve the structures of 11 monolithic World-Heritage listed churches built in the 12th and 13th centuries by King Lalibela. The region has become an important pilgrimage destination for locals and tourists. The region of Lalibela is deeply connected to Ethiopian Christianity and the 11 churches sit near a traditional village in the heart of Ethiopia. The building of the churches were credited to King Lalibela after he set out to construct a ‘New Jerusalem’ in the 12th Century after Christian pilgrimages were prevented from making their way to the Holy Land.

The churches are situated 150 kilometres east of Lake Tana, Ethiopia and the preservation project will see their structural integrity reinforced and improved architectural detail on the windows and doors. The finished site will include four free standing churches and seven churches embedded into rock. The site will also be home to the Medhane Alem, the world’s largest rock-hewn church building. It contains 72 pillars and is partially underground. There are a number of narrow causeways, steps, passages and tunnels running between the various religious buildings.

This preservation project follows past attempts at protecting the site by the European Commission. In 2008, large metal shelters were erected for the protection of five of the most degraded buildings, to prevent further damage from weather changes and tourism. The churches were not constructed in a traditional way, instead being hewn from monolithic blocks of rock. The blocks were chiseled out to include columns, doors, windows, floors and roofs. The original finished churches also included systems of drainage ditches and ceremonial passages, some of which lead to caves, catacombs and trenches.

http://designbuildsource.com.au/heritage-project-announced-for-religious-ethiopian-site
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Heritage Project Announced for Religious Ethiopian Site (Original Post) rug Apr 2013 OP
Interesting project... "hewn from monolithic blocks of rock" pinto Apr 2013 #1
It reminds me of Petra. rug Apr 2013 #2
I'm gonna have to watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade again! backscatter712 Apr 2013 #3
This can tide you over. rug Apr 2013 #4

pinto

(106,886 posts)
1. Interesting project... "hewn from monolithic blocks of rock"
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 09:12 AM
Apr 2013

I hope they are able to preserve them. Thanks for the find.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»Heritage Project Announce...