ADVERTISEMENT
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Involve Africa
  • Home
  • All African News
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Entertainment News
    • Travel
    • Tourism
    • Arts
  • Finance
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All African News
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Entertainment News
    • Travel
    • Tourism
    • Arts
  • Finance
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
No Result
View All Result
Involve Africa
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Arts

Tigray’s ancient rock-hewn churches are under threat: why it matters

Involve Africa by Involve Africa
May 22, 2022
in Arts
0
Tigray’s ancient rock-hewn churches are under threat: why it matters
585
SHARES
3.2k
VIEWS
https://web.facebook.com/involveafricanews?_rdc=1&https://twitter.com/involveafricanews


Ethiopia’s ancient civilisations are believed to date back more than 3,000 years. Many of the country’s most famous ancient artefacts are found in Tigray. The region has been embroiled in war since November 2020. Fighting between forces allied to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Tigrayan troops has led to the deaths of thousands of people and displaced millions. It has also caused the destruction of numerous historical monuments. With the region under a blockade, it has been difficult to track the scale of the damage done. Hagos Abrha Abay, a philologist, is documenting the region’s heritage loss. He sheds light on new reports of destruction in Ger’alta, which hosts some of Tigray’s oldest churches and monasteries.


What is the historical importance of Ger’alta in Ethiopia?

Ger‘alta is a principally mountainous zone located in a sandstone escarpment in south-central Tigray. It is in the district of Hawzen, which is presumed to date back to the South-Arabian migration to Ethiopia in 8th to 7th BCE.

Pottery, inscriptions and hagiographic traditions dating back to the Aksumite period depict Ger‘alta as one of the most important regions of ancient civilisation in the Horn of Africa. Cartographically, it appears in the 15th century as a component of the Ǝndärta province that occupied eastern and south eastern Tigray.

Ger’alta’s mountains give it one of the most captivating terrains in the northern Ethiopian highlands. Many of these mountains host ancient rock-hewn churches and monasteries, making the area a spiritual haven for pilgrims. These structures are recognised as world heritage sites. Despite having low levels of tourism development, the area was among Tigray’s most popular travel destinations.

What is unique about the architecture?

More than 150 of the thousands of ancient churches and monasteries in Tigray are rock-hewn. Ger‘alta accounts for a big share of these. Its ancient monasteries and churches are made up of a single bedrock and are carved into steep cliff sides.

These sites have preserved thousands of manuscripts for centuries. They are treasure troves of architectural engineering and artistic design.




Read more:
Religion was once Ethiopia’s saviour. What it can do to pull the nation from the brink


Most Ethiopian churches and monasteries were built on top of mountains for three reasons.

First, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church believes the biblical Zion symbolises a heavenly mountain shelter. Matthew 24:16 extols

You might also like

Baltimore Fishbowl | Terri Lee Freeman of Reginald F. Lewis Museum

The FIA dedicates a new gallery to African American and African Diaspora artists

here’s what made victims vulnerable

those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

It’s believed that the mountain here is a metaphor for a church. Aksum Zion – found in central Tigray and assumed to be the dwelling of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant – is not only the head of churches and monasteries in Ethiopia, but is also believed to be the ultimate sanctuary.

Second, spiritual dwellings in mountains were believed to be nearer to the heavens. Mountains were sometimes seen as ‘God’s throne’.

Third, mountains have been used as safe havens during wars and related disasters. Ethiopia has seen its fair share of both throughout its history. The Ger’alta mountains are part of a sandstone escarpment, which made them suitable for hewing places of refuge.

What physical damage has been done to the sites?

I have received local reports and footage of the destruction of some of these sites.

The district of Hawzen, especially the Ger’alta area, has seen several attacks from Ethiopian military, Eritrean and Amhara special forces, and militia groups. Civilian massacres have been committed in the ancient monasteries of Maryam Dängälät and Abba Yǝm‘atta (Guḥ). These two monasteries were visited and admired by Francisco Alvares, an early 16th-century Portuguese traveller

The monastery of Abubä Yǝmʿatta, a colourfully painted cloister at the top of one of Ger’alta’s mountains, is named after one of the Nine Saints. According to tradition, the saints were part of the Roman-Byzantine monks. It is believed that the saints fled the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and established a monastic cult in Tigray. The monastery was the site of the massacre of 19 civilians who had sought refuge there on 7 May 2021.




Read more:
Tigray war antagonists are reluctant to talk peace: why and what’s next


The Monastery of Abunä Abraham was established before the 14th Century. It is famous for its diverse architectural features that include 40 pillars, with some false ones carved out of the walls. It also has old wall paintings and 72 archaic Biblical and hagiographic Gǝʿǝz manuscripts that were digitised under a Mekelle University (St Yared Center for Ethiopian Philology and Manuscript Studies) project where I was the principal investigator. It is among the sites that have been bombed.

Debre Medhanit Amanuel Ma‘go, a church in Wuqro, was shelled by invading troops in November 2020. Residents filmed the destruction.

There is also local testimony of the destruction of the library of the rock-hewn church and monastery of Maryam Yerefeda. The site is dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus, with two arks dedicated to the saints Michael and Gabriel. Other church properties were destroyed and looted.

Membere Gebremedhin, a coordinator for the culture and tourism sector of the district of Hawzen in eastern Tigray, has reported that 31 monasteries and churches in the area have been heavily damaged. He added that church property and ecclesiastical materials have been looted. Footage of this destruction was shared by Dimtsi Weyane Television, a Tigrayan station.

This damage to churches and monasteries has destroyed Tigray’s vital heritage. It has also destroyed the potential of its tourism industry.

What does this heritage mean to people today?

The Ger‘alta heritage monuments carry emotional and spiritual links for the people of Tigray. These sacred heritage objects are believed to connect people to God. They are believed to offer intercession and spiritual healing power. It is devastating for believers to live with the destruction of a manuscript used in hagiographic rituals for women’s fertility, for instance.

Heritage sites are sources of historical pride, indigenous knowledge, and cultural and religious identity. They are also a source of income through tourism. Losing this heritage may lead to identity and psychological crises. It could lead to rage and trauma, cultural shocks and social collapse. The economic benefits from tourism could also be lost.

Finally, some heritage objects like manuscripts are epistemological tablets. They carry evidence of world history. Their destruction wipes out critical insights into humanity’s past.





Source_link

Previous Post

an MP claimed there’s no massive use for them in the UK – the evidence shows why he’s wrong

Next Post

South Africa’s ability to manage wastewater is collapsing: what’s at risk

Involve Africa

Involve Africa

Related Posts

Baltimore Fishbowl | Terri Lee Freeman of Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Arts

Baltimore Fishbowl | Terri Lee Freeman of Reginald F. Lewis Museum

by Involve Africa
January 31, 2023
The FIA dedicates a new gallery to African American and African Diaspora artists
Arts

The FIA dedicates a new gallery to African American and African Diaspora artists

by Involve Africa
January 31, 2023
here’s what made victims vulnerable
Arts

here’s what made victims vulnerable

by Involve Africa
January 30, 2023
River City Roundup: Jan. 30, 2023
Arts

River City Roundup: Jan. 30, 2023

by Involve Africa
January 30, 2023
Prison art around Australia | ArtsHub Australia
Arts

Prison art around Australia | ArtsHub Australia

by Involve Africa
January 30, 2023
Next Post
South Africa’s ability to manage wastewater is collapsing: what’s at risk

South Africa's ability to manage wastewater is collapsing: what's at risk

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Russia’s Wagner Group Compromises Security, Counterterrorism Efforts in the Sahel

Russia’s Wagner Group Compromises Security, Counterterrorism Efforts in the Sahel

January 26, 2023
Perforce to Acquire DevOps Pioneer Puppet

Perforce to Acquire DevOps Pioneer Puppet

June 28, 2022

Categories

  • All African News
  • Arts
  • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
  • Entertainment News
  • Finance
  • Food & Agriculture
  • News Videos
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Travel

Don't miss it

Rolling Over Leftover 529 Funds Into A Roth IRA: Who Benefits?
Finance

Rolling Over Leftover 529 Funds Into A Roth IRA: Who Benefits?

January 31, 2023
African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Photo Contest 2023
All African News

African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Photo Contest 2023

January 31, 2023
Crypto 101: What is the blockchain trilemma?
Crypto News

Crypto 101: What is the blockchain trilemma?

January 31, 2023
Burna Boy Reacts As South African Rapper, Gigi Lamayne Professes Love To Him
Entertainment News

Burna Boy Reacts As South African Rapper, Gigi Lamayne Professes Love To Him

January 31, 2023
What I Think Of Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge – BTATnT
Tourism

What I Think Of Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge – BTATnT

January 31, 2023
whose job is it to clean up the mess?
Energy & Environment

whose job is it to clean up the mess?

January 31, 2023

Social Bar

Welcome to involve Africa The goal of involve Africa is to give you the absolute best news sources for any topic! Our topics are carefully curated and constantly updated as we know the web moves fast so we try to as well.

Categories

  • All African News
  • Arts
  • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
  • Entertainment News
  • Finance
  • Food & Agriculture
  • News Videos
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Travel

Site Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Recent News

Rolling Over Leftover 529 Funds Into A Roth IRA: Who Benefits?

Rolling Over Leftover 529 Funds Into A Roth IRA: Who Benefits?

January 31, 2023
African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Photo Contest 2023

African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Photo Contest 2023

January 31, 2023

INVOLVEAFRICA.COM

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All African News
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Entertainment News
    • Travel
    • Tourism
    • Arts
  • Finance
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment

INVOLVEAFRICA.COM

What Are Cookies
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT