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

Open a work to see every view

2 views

royal palace1955

National Palace

Addis Ababa

Wikimedia Commons

Unknown author · Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Source record ↗

St. Gevorg church, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2 views

church1932

St. Gevorg church

Addis Ababa

Wikimedia Commons

DonCamillo · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Source record ↗

2 views

monastery1301

Debre Bizen

Eritrea

Wikimedia Commons

Grullab · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Source record ↗

Panorama of Lalibela from Debra Tabor, adjacent to the Eastern Complex of churches 2006. The large roof visible left of centre covers Beta Madhane Alem and marks the location of the Northern Complex. In front of it and to the left is a procession of worshippers proceeding to Beta Giyorgis.

2 views

building group1300

Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela (Ensemble)

Lasta

Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (2009)p. 3

David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia: Fourth–Fourteenth Centuries (Yale University Press, 2009), unnumbered frontispiece, ‘Panorama of Lalibela’ (image PDF p. 3; caption PDF p. 5).

Source record ↗

A line drawing of the Italian casino building at Sa'ati.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Italian casino at Sa'ati

Sa'ati

The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893p. 8

J. Theodore Bent, The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893, 1896, p. 8. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia.

Source record ↗

A drawing of the tomb of Abuna Qeréllos in Adwa, set against a mountainous landscape.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Adwa: tomb of Abuna Qeréllos, Patriarch from 1816 to c.1829, who, like other heads of the Ethiopian Church at this time, was an Egyptian Copt

Adwa

The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893p. 127

J. Theodore Bent, The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893, 1896, p. 127. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia.

Source record ↗

A sketch of the Dabra Bizan monastery buildings situated on a rocky mountain slope.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The monastery of Dabra Bizan, east of Asmara, founded in the early Christian era

Dabra Bizan, Asmara

The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893p. 52

J. Theodore Bent, The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893, 1896, p. 52. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia.

Source record ↗

An engraving of the ancient temple at Yeha with several people sitting in the foreground.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The temple at Yeha, 50 feet high, composed of large blocks of limestone held together without cement

Yeha

The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893p. 138

J. Theodore Bent, The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893, 1896, p. 138. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia.

Source record ↗

A sketch depicting the ruins of the ancient temple at Yeha surrounded by a landscape with small dwellings.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

View of Yeha showing an ancient pre-Christian temple

Yeha

The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893p. 136

J. Theodore Bent, The Sacred City of the Ethiopians: Being a Record of Travel and Research in Abyssinia in 1893, 1896, p. 136. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia.

Source record ↗

A multi-story stone building with ornate wooden balconies in Massawa, with two figures standing in the foreground.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

A prominent trader's house at Massawa

Massawa

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 233

Bizzoni, p. 233. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A drawing of the Italian officers' club building in Asmara.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Italian officers' club at Asmara

Asmara

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 237

Bizzoni, p. 237. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A drawing of the military commandant's house in Asmara, featuring a wooden structure with a veranda and balcony.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Military commandant's house at Asmara, capital of the Italian colony of Eritrea

Asmara, Eritrea

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 240

Bizzoni, p. 240. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A drawing of a traditional round, thatched-roof house in Jimma.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

A finely executed, spacious wattle-and-daub house in Jimma

Jimma

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 113

Borelli, p. 113. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A view of the ruined stone archway and tower of the palace of Ras Mika'él Sehul in Gondar.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The palace of Ras Mika'él Sehul at Gondar

Gondar

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 8

Lefebvre, Atlas I, p. 8. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A sketch of the addarash, a two-story reception hall with a veranda, located at Menelik II's palace in Addis Ababa.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The addarash, or reception hall, at Menilek's palace in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 217

Mantegazza, Assedio, p. 217. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A view of the palace of Menelik II at Entotto, featuring a fortified enclosure and a multi-story building with flags.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Menilek’s palace at Entotto. Note the Ethiopian flag which then consisted of three separate pennons

Entotto

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 133

Massaia XI, p. 133. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

An engraving depicting the palace compound of Emperor Yohannes IV at Dabra Tabor, with armed guards and figures in the foreground.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The gebbi, or palace, of Yohannes IV at Dabra Tabor

Dabra Tabor

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 73

Massaia XI, p. 73. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A sketch of a traditional stone house in Adwa with a person standing outside holding a spear and shield.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

A rectangular stone house at Adwa in which Mansfield Parkyns and his wife, Wayzaro Kasach Wedehél, resided

Adwa

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 2

Parkyns I, p. 2. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A domed tomb structure located in Harar.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

A Muslim holy man's tomb at Harar

Harar

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 267

Paulitschke, p. 267. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A view of the Bab al-Futuh gate in the walled city of Harar with figures and animals in the foreground.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Harar: the Bab al-Futuh, or Gate of Victory

Harar

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 250

Paulitschke, p. 250. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A depiction of the grand mosque al-Jami in the city of Harar.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The grand mosque al-Jami at Harar

Harar

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 207

Paulitschke, p. 207. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

A view of the palace of the Emirs of Harar with a flag flying above the entrance.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The palace of the Emirs of Harar

Harar

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 203

Paulitschke, p. 203. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

An engraving depicting the Fasil Ghebbi castle complex in Gondar, Ethiopia, with a figure on a mule in the foreground.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

The great castle of Emperor Fasiladas at Gondar built in 1640s

Gondar

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 255

Reclus, p. 255. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗

An engraving depicting the ruins of the palace of Empress Mentewwab at Qwesqwam, accompanied by sketches of architectural and decorative details including crosses, a face, and animals.

View image

Historical illustration19th-century illustration

Ruins of the eighteenth-century palace of Empress Mentewwab at Qwesqwam outside Gondar, with details of some of its decorations

Gondar, Qwesqwam

Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopiap. 270

Rohlfs, p. 270. Image: Ethiopia Engraved / Link Ethiopia. Reference transcribed from the collection caption.

Source record ↗