ethiopian architecture By: Ephrem Niguse

1. MEDIEVAL
ROCK CHURCH
ARCHITECTURE

2. Background
• Medieval period is the time between 1000-1500
AD.(11th-16thAD)
• A time in which Christianity was becoming a
dominant religion in Ethiopia and in western
Europe
• The great Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals
were the dominant features in Europe.

4. Influences
Political and religious
• Almost all the early churches with built-up walls were
destroyed during religious wars, except the likes of the
famous Debre Damo Monastrey.
• In the 12th c. the centre of Ethiopian political power was
moved southwards to the province of Lasta, where a
new ruling dynasty, the Zagwe established its capital at
Roha, later renamed Lalibela.
• King Lalibela reign for some 30 years at the end of the
12th c. and beginning of 13thc.
• He was inspired to construct the famous churches after
his journey.

5. Influences
Regional influence
• Most of the medieval churches are built in areas
surrounded by rugged mountains and on top of an
inaccessible mountain tops.
• Some say that the rock churches were created at the
same spot where natural phenomena had preveiously
been worshiped; others argue that Ethiopians had some
knowledge of the excavated temples and burial-
chambers of Egypt and the Rock-hewn churches of
Cappa Docia in Asia-Minor.

6. The Ger-Alta area is famous not only
with its rock churches but also with its
fascinating landscape
• Abune Yemata Guh church

7. Influences
Architectural
• Most of the architectural elements are adapted from the
Axumite styles
• The planning system also adapted from western
countries through Axum.

8. Rock churches
The possible explanation for the emergence of medieval
Rock- Hewn churches
• Protection against wars, environmental factors like
rain.
• The need for seclusion from the rest of the world.
• The desire to achieve permanence.

9. Characteristic features
• Types of rock churches
• Plans
• Sections
• Windows
• Doors
• Decoration

10. Types of Rock and
Cave churches
Type 1. Built- up cave
churches
Type 2. Rock- hewn cave
churches
Type 3. Rock- hewn
monolithic churches

11. Type -1
Built up Cave churches
• Which are ordinary buildings placed inside a
natural cave for protection or seclusion.
• It is the least common case.
• The famous example is Yimrihanna Krestos.

12. Yimrihanna Krestos

14. Type -2
Rock - hewn cave churches
• Which are cut inwards from a more or less vertical cliff
face
• Sometimes using and widening an existing natural cave.
• In some case only the sanctuary part is cut into the rock
and the front parts are constructed of built-up masonry
• The principle as such has been used also in other
countries for churches as well as for non- Christian
temples.
• Mostly these churches are found in Tigray and Lalibela.

16. • Indian temples

17. Type -3
Rock - hewn monolithic churches
• It always imitate a built up structure but are cut in one
piece from the rock and separated from it all around by a
trench.
• Mostly the churches in and near Lalibela belongs to this
type.
• Other countries have not constructed churches in this
particular manner.

19. PLANS
Origin of the Ethiopian basilica
• The possible models are from the eastern Mediterranean
countries and/or along the Nile valley.
• Probably Armenia
• By the time the basilica plan was brought to Ethiopia, it
was probably regarded in its whole as the proper shape
for a Christian church
• Part of the concept was that the church should be
oriented with the holiest part towards the East
• The nave is not raised in the Ethiopian rock churches
meaning there is no clerestory.

20. European basilica
Apse
Nave
Aisle

21. Ethiopian basilica plan
Apse(holy of holies)
• Three Apses is in the symbol of holly
trinity
• The square shaped Axumite type of
construction imposed itself in the
imported basilica plan.
• The basilica plan is used more than the
basilica section
• Three doors are the character of Christian
church
• The sanctuary part with the Holy of holies
faces towards the east in Ethiopian
churches

22. Section
• It is relatively easy in rock-hewn churches to make
arches (Lalibela) and Domes(Tigray) but they are not
structural.
• Roof are much thicker than walls
• Ethiopian rock churches are usually approached from
below if necessary through tunnels, in order to give the
same feeling as when going up to a built church standing
on elevated ground.

25. Windows
• Most of the windows in Lalibela can be
analyzed in terms of easily
understandable structural elements.
• When the decoration is purely
architectural it may consist of small
columns with bases and capitals, joined
by arches.
• The columns are much smaller than
normal
• If only the voids of such decoration is
regarded, as will be the case when light
through the windows is observed from
the interior side, these decorations may
create “keyholes” and other original
shapes.

26. Windows
• When the decoration
doesn’t consist of structural
elements, it usually depicts
variations of the christian
cross

28. Excavation techniques
• Excavation techniques for the
churches in type 2 & 3
1. first they cut one trench down
- to test the rock
- to drain water
2. they cut in wards through the
main western door and the
excavation is done by the use of
terraces

29. Internal and External Decorations

32. To Be Continued…..