The Habesha History collection

Architecture & the arts.

Buildings, objects and painted pages. Explore the collection, with the source beside every image.

3,639works to explore4,151 images · books & collections

Architecture 233 works

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Church (of dedication) in the Gunda-Gunde monastery, 1950s.

2 views

Architecture & ruins

Gunda-Gunde Monastery Complex

Agame, Tigray, Ethiopia

Guidebook: National Museum of Ethiopia, Historical Archaeology Exhibitionp. 48

Marie-Laure Derat and Deresse Ayenachew, Guidebook: National Museum of Ethiopia, Historical Archaeology Exhibition, (2025), p. 48.

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Figure 7 — Structure A, substructure of the central building, east facade (photograph: Kebbedé Bogalé).

3 views

Architecture & ruins4th–5th century CE (provisional dating in the source)

Structure A, Matara

Matara, Debub, Eritrea

Matara: the Archaeological Investigation of a City of Ancient Eritreap. 21, fig. 7

Francis Anfray, Matara: the Archaeological Investigation of a City of Ancient Eritrea, (2012), p. 21, fig. 7; photograph by Kebbedé Bogalé.

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Figure 20 — Structure F, ruins of the basilica (level 2), taken from the west side (photograph: Kebbedé Bogalé).

2 views

Architecture & ruinslate Aksumite period

Structure F Basilica, Matara

Matara, Debub, Eritrea

Matara: the Archaeological Investigation of a City of Ancient Eritreap. 27, fig. 20

Francis Anfray, Matara: the Archaeological Investigation of a City of Ancient Eritrea, (2012), p. 27, fig. 20; photograph by Kebbedé Bogalé.

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A typical Tigray farmstead on the northeastern edge of the Hawzien Plain, 1997.

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Architecture & ruins

Hawzien Plain vernacular farmstead

Hawzien Plain

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 7, fig. 5.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 7, fig. 5.

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Stone walling at Kidane Mehret, Aksum, an indigenous farming settlement of the mid-first millennium BC, excavated in 1996.

2 views

Architecture & ruins

Kidane Mehret archaeological structures, Aksum

Aksum

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 8, fig. 8.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 8, fig. 8.

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Aksum, inside the ‘Mausoleum’, the complex fourth-century tomb whose position the largest stela was intended to mark, 1995. Although built of stones set in mud, the interior walls were originally plastered with a coarse render — as clearly shown at bottom left of this photograph — to give the impression that the tomb had been carved from solid rock.

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Architecture & ruins

Aksum Mausoleum

Aksum

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 14, fig. 15.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 14, fig. 15.

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Aksum, the so-called ‘Rock Tomb’, undated and apparently unfinished, 1994.

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Architecture & ruins

Rock Tomb, Aksum

Aksum

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 18, fig. 24.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 18, fig. 24.

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Agula, view from the southwest of the ruins of Enda Tcherqos, 2006.

3 views

Architecture & ruins

Agula Enda Tcherqos

Agula

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 48, fig. 60.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 48, fig. 60.

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Mika’el Debra Selam, exterior of the inner church, viewed from the southeast, 2006. The ‘porch’ is visible on the left.

5 views

Architecture & ruins

Mika’el Debra Selam

Atsbi area

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 69, fig. 89.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 69, fig. 89.

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Tcherqos Agobo, viewed from the northeast, 2006.

3 views

Architecture & ruins

Tcherqos Agobo

Atsbi area

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 71, fig. 93.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 71, fig. 93.

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Makina Madhane Alem, general view of the church within the cave, from the north-northeast, 2006.

4 views

Architecture & ruins

Makina Madhane Alem

Mount Abuna Yosef

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 81, fig. 110.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 81, fig. 110.

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Debra Tekla Haimonot Bethlehem, general exterior view, 2006.

5 views

Architecture & ruins

Debra Tekla Haimonot Bethlehem

Bethlehem, southeast of Debre Tabor

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 83, fig. 114.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 83, fig. 114.

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Madhane Alem Addi Qesho, the infilled portico of the west façade, 2006.

7 views

Architecture & ruins

Madhane Alem Addi Qesho

Addi Qesho

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 86, fig. 120.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 86, fig. 120.

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Degum, view of the rock outcrop from the northeast, 2006. The modern church of Sellassie is on the left.

4 views

Architecture & ruins

Degum hypogea

Degum, 28 km by road from Wukro

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 89, fig. 122.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 89, fig. 122.

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Maryam Beraqit, the flat-ceilinged nave, looking east into the apsidal domed sanctuary, 2006. Note the arch, Aksumite friezes and manbara tabot.

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Architecture & ruins

Maryam Beraqit

Tigray

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 92, fig. 128.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 92, fig. 128.

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Yohannes Metmek Gazien, the west façade, 2006. This is the church’s only external manifestation.

3 views

Architecture & ruins

Yohannes Metmek Gazien

North of Atsbi

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 98, fig. 140.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 98, fig. 140.

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5 views

Architecture & ruins

Maryam Wkro

Amba Senneyti / Nebolet

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 103, fig. 148.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 103, fig. 148.

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Maryam Debra Tsion, part of the exterior north façade, carved with representations of horizontal beams and monkey-heads, 2006.

6 views

Architecture & ruins

Maryam Debra Tsion

Gheralta

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 105, fig. 154.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 105, fig. 154.

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Sokota Masqal Kristos, blind low-level window at the north end of the exterior west wall, with modern paintings, 2006.

4 views

Architecture & ruins

Sokota Masqal Kristos

Sokota area

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 108, fig. 160.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 108, fig. 160.

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Kankanet Mika’el, the outer entrance, flanked by large carved Latin crosses, 2006.

4 views

Architecture & ruins

Kankanet Mika’el

6.5 km northeast of Lalibela

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 112, fig. 168.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 112, fig. 168.

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Ganata Maryam from the southwest, showing the external colonnade, 1998.

3 views

Architecture & ruins

Ganata Maryam

Mount Abuna Yosef area

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 114, fig. 173.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 114, fig. 173.

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Mellehayzengi, the newly excavated church of Petros, 2006.

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Architecture & ruins

Petros hypogean church, Mellehayzengi

Mellehayzengi, eastern Tigray

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 121, fig. 186.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 121, fig. 186.

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Lalibela, part of the peripheral trench northeast of Beta Emmanuel, looking south, 2006.

3 views

Architecture & ruins

Lalibela Eastern Complex

Lalibela

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 125, fig. 189.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 125, fig. 189.

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Lalibela, the trench linking the Northern and Eastern Complexes, incorporating nuns’ residences, 1997.

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Architecture & ruins

Lalibela Northern Complex

Lalibela

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 154, fig. 238.

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), p. 154, fig. 238.

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