Carved stone churches standing free of the rock they were carved from, except at their base, are unique to Lalibela, Ethiopia. Legend tells of King Lalibela who built the churches in the 13thC, being commanded by God to build several churches and chapels with the help of angels. Most are still connected to the original rock to some degree, only 4 of the churches are completely separated from the surrounding rock by open trenches.
Located near the banks of the River Jordan (not the same River Jordan as the one in the Holy Land), Lalibela has been considered by some to be the new Jerusalem. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church still worships in the churches at Lalibela. Mummies of monks and pilgrims reside in niches carved out of the sides of the trenches and in caves. The houses of Lalibela are dry laid stone and can be seen in the pictures below. Click the pictures for larger views.
Sculpting an Entire Building From Solid Rock
The technical aspects of carved stone buildings are daunting even in the 21stC. Carving them in the 13thC in the short space of 24 years with the necessity to allow for water runoff during the rainy season is nothing less than phenomenal. The trenches are part of a drainage system to the river. The intensity of the rain is so great, that traveling to Lalibela during the rainy season is prohibitively difficult.
Like the great pyramids, there is no record of how construction was accomplished. The churches themselves are the only record of construction. Were the trenches carved out first and the churches then carved from the base upward, requiring the excess stone to be removed from the base? It would seem easier for stone removal to have carved the church and the trench at the same rate, from the top down. However the subtractive process progressed, the massive scale evokes awe.
The walls of Bet Giyogis are thicker at the base, and gradually become thinner as they rise. The transitions are masked by the horizontal bands around the church. The upper windows have sculpted frames and are open, while the lower windows are blanks, not real openings.
The Four Freestanding Underground Churches of Lalibela
The names of the churches and the spellings vary, depending on the source.
- Beta Ghiorghis, Bet Giyoghis, Bet Giorgis, or the House of St George is probably the most famous and most photographed of the churches.
- Bet(a) Medhane Alem, or the House of the Savior of the World
- Beta Ghenetta Mariam, Bet Maryam, or the House of Mary
- Beta Ammanuel, Bet Emmanuel, or the House of Emanuel
Continuous use has taken it's toll on the structures of the Lalibela churches. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church continues regular services. Lalibela actively encourages tourists who also contribute to wear as well as to the economy. These sacred places are a true wonder.
Sources:
- Selamta
- Visiting Forgotten Wonder of the World
For More Photos:
Corinne Shibley - Corinne Shibley studied sculpture in art history and created her own sculpture on the way to a B.A. in Studio Art. "There's something ...
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