The Greater Tigray---History (ታሪኽ ዓባይ ትግራይ): July 2014

Tigray is Ethiopia's most northerly region which covers an area of approximately 80,000 km²and is administered from its capital city Mekelle. The population sums up to more than 6 million, of which 95% are Eastern Orthodox Christian while the rest 5% belongs to other religious sects. Tigray has been central to many of the more important events in Ethiopian history, from the adoption of Christianity by the Axumite Empire in the 4^th century, to the defeat of Italy outside Adwa 1,500 years later (after the end of Axumite Empire). The city of Axum and associate archeological sites are main tourist attractions in the region, but the 120 rock-hewn churches scattered throughout Tembien, Gherealta and Wukro of the region are worth exploring with great tourist attraction potential.

This post is designed to introduce some of the fascinating nature and manmade tourist attraction sites in the region-Tigray. Furthermore, it gives an overview of different part of the region to readers of interested in the region.

Figure 2. Tigray by woreda

The Southern Zone of Tigray

Southern part of Tigray pervades a mountainous landscape that falls west to invincible side and east embraces the Azebo valley. The vicinity is marked by notable nature and man-made tourist attractions.

The Town of Korem and its Vicinity (All the photos here are property of the blogger)

Lake HashengieLake Hashengie and Old city

2. South Eastern Zone (Tembien and Gherealta Areas)

This zone is unique to other parts of Tigray for several reasons. It has been the home renowned generals Alula Abanega and Emperor Yohannese IV. Besides, more than 20 of the rock hew churches found in Tigray lies in this region,. However, the existence of these churches is not well known to outside world by foreign visitors. Even though the construction of Wukro cherkos, MichaelImba and Abraha wa Atsebaha was undertaken in the tenth century, according to David Buxton, the existence of MichaelImaba was first reported in 1948 by the help of Beatrice Playne, the pioneer in the study of Ethiopian painting… similarly, for many years it was Wukro cherkos the only rock-hew church known to the outside world (Tigray Tourism and Information Bureau, 1996)

Scattering unevenly over an area of 180 x 140 kms in this zone (many other place outside this zone), the rock-hewn churches are found at the mountains of Gherealta, TsaedaImba, Atsbidera, Haramat, GantaAfeshum. Some of the churches found around Ghetrealta are: Debretsion AbuneAbrham), Yohannes, Moequiddi, Mariam Korar, Abune Yemata (Swahlu, 1998). Furthermore, the rock-hewn church of Gherealta are known for their famous stone manship, ancient paintings, and old manuscripts. Similarly the rock-hewn churches in TsaedaImba have common characteristics. These are Medhanialem Adihekho, petros paulos and Michael Milhaizeng (Asfawossen, 2002). Like the churches of Gherealata the construction of these churches was limited to the activity of Christianity. Similar to other rock-hewn churches the interior parts are more decorated. Paul henze wrote in his book “Ethiopia Journey” there is almost no interest in the exterior in Tigre but the interiors of the larger Tigrean rock-hewn churches are superior to the most of the Lalibela in refinement of design and decoration (Tigray Tourism Bureau, 1996).

In addition to Gherealata and Tsaeda Emba, Tembien (see map of Tembien 2) is another home of Rock hewn churches in Tigray. it is the home of more than 20 rock hewn churches few of them are Ghebriel Wukien, Abba Yohannes, Amanuel MaiBaha, MariamHibrto, Abaselama and Mariam Itsewto. Because of the problem of inaccessibility theses places have been forgotten for many years (A. Anthon, 2005). Other places which are home of rock hewn churches are Maichaelimba, Debreselam Michael and Michael Barcka in Atsbi woreda; Abraha Atsbha and wukrocherkos in Tserae Woreda and Mariam Wukro in woreilekhe woreda ( Tigray Tourism Commission,1996 Tigray Millennium,2007; Atlas of Tigray 1990).It is this potential that can make Tigray to attract tourists from different parts of the world. These tourists could be business men, researcher families for different purposes including scholastic sightseeing from inside and outside Ethiopia

The Tembien Zone

Tembien is a place from which honey and butter are easily fetched, not in trickles but in abundance. It is also the birthplace of great war-winning heroes like Emperor Yohannes IV and Ras Allula Abba Nega. Many remember it for its unique and fascinating dance, locally called 'Awris', but very few realize it is also the site of about twenty rock-hewn churches. (Here below is abune yemata and all pictures are taken from off the beaten track blog: Published March 16, 2013 Caves , Cultural relics , Curiosites , Ethiopia , Mountains and ridgewalks , Rock formations , Travelling and sightseeing 2 Comments