Visiting Ethiopian Churches

This work analyses the paintings of eight frequently visited churches which feature prominently in the Ethiopian tourism industry. These are the churches of Yimrhane Kirstos and Lalibela in Lasta Abrha we Asbha and Aksum Maryam Tsion in Tigrai Debre Sina Maryam on the northern shore of Lake Tana Narga Sillasse and Ura Kidane Mihret in Lake Tana and Debre Birhan Sillasse in Gondar. Nowadays along with some other attractions the eight churches under review serve as Ethiopia''s prime tourist draw. A typical Ethiopian cultural itinerary includes most of them. With the exception of most of the rock churches of Lalibela paintings are an integral part of the churches under review. In five of them namely Debre Sina Maryam Narga Sillasse Debre Birhan Sillasse the old Aksum Maryam Tsion and Ura Kidane Mihret the paintings are their prime attractions. Without the murals they would not have been able to draw international tourists. Ethiopian church art is characterized by the diversity of the subject matter. The eight frequently visited churches house diverse themes including Jesus the Virgin Mary Mary the Trinity Old Testament stories Angels Rider Saints and Ethiopian saints. This work pays particular attention to the works of art related to the life of the Virgin Mary. This is because while there are plenty of scenes of the Virgin Mary most of them are less known particularly to foreign tourists. In addition to the less known illustrations in order to make the presentation of the life of Mary in Ethiopian church art complete well known themes in which Mary occurs such as the Annunciation the Nativity and the Crucifixion have also been included.