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

Artifacts 935 works

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Processional Cross (qäqwami mäsqäl) — view 1

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Religious objects15th–16th century

Processional cross (qäqwami mäsqäl)

Ethiopia; Highlands region

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gift of Nicolas Fries, 1999

Source record ↗

Female Figure, Ethiopia (Beta Esra'el), 20th century, glazed terra-cotta, Salem, The Peabody Essex Museum, E68752.

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Sculpture, reliefs & stelae20th century

Female Figure

Ethiopia (Beta Esra'el)

Ethiopia at the Crossroads (2023)Printed p. 90, cat. 10 (supplied scan PDF p. 90)

Christine Sciacca, ed., Ethiopia at the Crossroads (Baltimore: The Walters Art Museum, in association with Yale University Press, 2023). · Printed p. 90, cat. 10 (supplied scan PDF p. 90) · Kathy Tarantola

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The manuscript's leather satchel used for storage or transportation

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Manuscript satchel

Leather manuscript satchel — MS Aeth. d. 23

Treasures of Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (2019)p. 27, fig. 3.5

Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Aeth. d. 23; reproduced in Jacopo Gnisci (ed.), Treasures of Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Manar al-Athar, University of Oxford, 2019), p. 27, fig. 3.5; image PDF p. 41; caption printed p. 27 / PDF p. 41.

Source record ↗

Mäsqälä qǝddase (liturgical cross) — view 1

2 views

Religious objects13th–14th century

Mäsqälä qǝddase liturgical cross

Ethiopia; Northern Highlands

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Purchase, 2005 Benefit Fund, 2011

Source record ↗

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Religious objects14th–15th century

Processional Cross

Ethiopia; Lasta region

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Purchase, Elaine Rosenberg Gift and funds from various donors, 1998

Source record ↗

Illustration 44. Drawing of a bronze coin (d. c. 15mm) of king Aphilas of Aksum, showing a wheat stalk in the reverse field; on all the gold coins of Aksum two such stalks frame the king's head on the obverse

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Coins & currency

Drawing of a bronze coin (d. c. 15mm) of king Aphilas of Aksum, showing a wheat stalk in the reverse field; on all the gold coins of Aksum two such stalks frame the king's head on the obverse — Illustration 44

Aksum, Ethiopia

Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquityp. 141

Stuart Munro-Hay, Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity, (1991), p. 141

Illustration 51. Drawing of a bronze coin (d. c. 16mm) of king Wazena of Aksum; on the obverse the king holds a grain stalk and is surrounded by a motto, while on the reverse a gold-inlaid cross-crosslet is depicted

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Coins & currency

Drawing of a bronze coin (d. c. 16mm) of king Wazena of Aksum; on the obverse the king holds a grain stalk and is surrounded by a motto, while on the reverse a gold-inlaid cross-crosslet is depicted — Illustration 51

Aksum, Ethiopia

Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquityp. 163

Stuart Munro-Hay, Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity, (1991), p. 163

Illustration 64. Drawing of a silver coin (d. 16mm) of king Wazena of Aksum, showing a Greek cross framed in an arch rather similar to the design on the silver coin of Armah, fig

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Coins & currency

Drawing of a silver coin (d. 16mm) of king Wazena of Aksum, showing a Greek cross framed in an arch rather similar to the design on the silver coin of Armah — Illustration 64

Aksum, Ethiopia

Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquityp. 212

Stuart Munro-Hay, Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity, (1991), p. 212

Figure 7.7 Architectural fragments from Samidi South

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Sculpture & fragments

Architectural fragments from Samidi South — Figure 7.7

Adulis, Eritrea

The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Results of the Eritro-British Expedition, 2004-5p. c. 117

David Peacock and Lucy Blue (eds.), The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Results of the Eritro-British Expedition, 2004-5, (2007), p. c. 117

Figure 7.9 Markings on the stones of Samidi North

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Sculpture & fragments

Markings on the stones of Samidi North — Figure 7.9

Adulis, Eritrea

The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Results of the Eritro-British Expedition, 2004-5p. 119

David Peacock and Lucy Blue (eds.), The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Results of the Eritro-British Expedition, 2004-5, (2007), p. 119

Figure 8.2 The coarse-wares from Diodorus Island

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Ceramics & vessels

The coarse-wares from Diodorus Island — Figure 8.2

Adulis, Eritrea

The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Results of the Eritro-British Expedition, 2004-5p. c. 130

David Peacock and Lucy Blue (eds.), The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Results of the Eritro-British Expedition, 2004-5, (2007), p. c. 130

Fig. 37 - Possible ancient, isolated, standing monolith at Enda Kaleb and Gabra Masqal, north-east of Aksum, site 06-01 cultural and chronological sequence established by the

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Inscriptions & stelae

Possible ancient, isolated, standing monolith at Enda Kaleb and Gabra Masqal, north-east of Aksum, site 06-01 cultural and chronological sequence established — Fig. 37

Aksum, Ethiopia

Ancient Settlement Patterns in the Area of Aksum (Tigray, Northern Ethiopia) – Ca. 900 BCE–800/850 CEp. 52

Luisa Sernicola, Ancient Settlement Patterns in the Area of Aksum (Tigray, Northern Ethiopia) – Ca. 900 BCE–800/850 CE, (2017), p. 52

Fig. 81 Cuprous fragments from the'block', Tomb of the Brick Arches: a - grille; b - plates with cut-out designs; c - bars and nails. The Tomb of the Brick Arches 30 mm 30 mm 30 mm 101 c

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Ceramics & vessels

Cuprous fragments from the'block', Tomb of the Brick Arches: a - grille; b - plates with cut-out designs; c - bars and nails. The Tomb of the Brick Arches 30 mm 30 mm 30 mm 101 c — Fig. 81

Aksum, Ethiopia

Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume Ip. c. 101

David W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume I, (2000), p. c. 101

Fig. 234 The south face of Stela 3, showing both its impressive overall symmetry and the variation in detail

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Inscriptions & stelae

The south face of Stela 3, showing both its impressive overall symmetry and the variation in detail — Fig. 234

Aksum, Ethiopia

Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume Ip. 264

David W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume I, (2000), p. 264

Fig. 49 Pottery jars from the Tomb of the Brick Arches

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Ceramics & vessels

Pottery jars from the Tomb of the Brick Arches — Fig. 49

Aksum, Ethiopia

Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume Ip. c. 67

David W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume I, (2000), p. c. 67

Fig. 399 Examples of wear and use-damage on lithic artefacts: a - chalcedony crescent, note the heavily worn tip and portion of the sharp edge; b, c - a unique chalcedony point with possible impact-damage at the tip on the ventral surface,from Baahti Nebait; d - worn tip of a utilised quartz

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Sculpture & fragments

Examples of wear and use-damage on lithic artefacts: a - chalcedony crescent, note the heavily worn tip and portion of the sharp edge — Fig. 399

Aksum, Ethiopia

Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume IIp. 451

David W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume II, (2000), p. 451

Fig. 405 Details of the carved ivory panels from the Tomb of the Brick Arches: a - vine motif; b,c - Africanstyle faces carved in low relief. conjoined to a similar low-relief back (Fig. 404). While the vine motif on the furniture panels from the Tomb of the Brick Arches (Fig

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Sculpture & fragments

Details of the carved ivory panels from the Tomb of the Brick Arches: a - vine motif; b,c - Africanstyle faces carved in low relief. conjoined to a similar low-relief back — Fig. 405

Aksum, Ethiopia

Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume IIp. 462

David W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume II, (2000), p. 462

Fig. 410 Turned furniture finial from the Tomb of the Brick Arches (see also Figs 99, JOOg): a - general view, showing carved fluted decoration, sawn mortice and drilled peg holes; b - striations of polishing inside the fluting. Fig

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Sculpture & fragments

Turned furniture finial from the Tomb of the Brick Arches — Fig. 410

Aksum, Ethiopia

Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume IIp. 465

David W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7, Volume II, (2000), p. 465

Figure 8. Artefacts illustrating ritual, administrative and/or trade activities at the basilica: a) bucranium with facial features; b-c) cow figurines; d) incense burners; e) stamp seal; f) bucranium; g-n) tokens (figure by I. Dumitru)

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Religious objects

Artefacts illustrating ritual, administrative and/or trade activities at the basilica: a) bucranium with facial features; b-c) cow figurines; d) incense burners; e) stamp seal; f) bucranium — Figure 8

Aksum, Ethiopia

Beta Samati: discovery and excavation of an Aksumite townp. c. 1546

Michael J. Harrower, Ioana A. Dumitru, Cinzia Perlingieri, Smiti Nathan, Kifle Zerue, Jessica L. Lamont, Alessandro Bausi, Jennifer L. Swerida, Jacob L. Bongers, Helina S. Woldekiros, Laurel A. Poolman, Christie M. Pohl, Steven A. Brandt & Elizabeth A. Peterson, Beta Samati: discovery and excavation of an Aksumite town, (2019), p. c. 1546

Fig. 5.9 - Perles et cauri de l'hypogée de Mähal Wänz déposées au musée national d'Addis Abeba

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Jewellery & adornment

Perles et cauri de l'hypogée de Mähal Wänz déposées au musée national d'Addis Abeba — Fig. 5.9

Mähal Wänz, Ethiopia

La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païennep. 128

François-Xavier Fauvelle-Aymar and Bertrand Poissonnier (eds.), La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païenne, (2012), p. 128

Fig. 5.10 - Mähal Wänz: la stèle brute au nord des deux tumulus

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Inscriptions & stelae

Mähal Wänz: la stèle brute au nord des deux tumulus — Fig. 5.10

Mähal Wänz, Ethiopia

La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païennep. c. 129

François-Xavier Fauvelle-Aymar and Bertrand Poissonnier (eds.), La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païenne, (2012), p. c. 129

Fig. 5.11 - Mähal Wänz: la stèle brute au nord des deux tumulus

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Inscriptions & stelae

Mähal Wänz: la stèle brute au nord des deux tumulus — Fig. 5.11

Mähal Wänz, Ethiopia

La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païennep. c. 129

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Ceramics & vessels

Ketetiya. Poterie n° 2008 — Fig. 6.7

Ketetiya, Ethiopia

La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païennep. 146

François-Xavier Fauvelle-Aymar and Bertrand Poissonnier (eds.), La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païenne, (2012), p. 146

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Ceramics & vessels

Ketetiya. Poterie n° 2008 — Fig. 6.8

Ketetiya, Ethiopia

La culture Shay d’Éthiopie (Xe–XIVe siècles): Recherches archéologiques et historiques sur une élite païennep. c. 147