Ethiopia, legendary home of the Queen of Sheba who travelled to Jerusalem to meet Solomon, resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant and battleground of the great emperors from Ezana in the 4th century AD to Haile Selassie in modern times, has inspired many travellers and writers since time immemorial. Recently few have journeyed there or, indeed, have any conception of the extraordinary cultural treasures that await visitors. Stuart Munro-Hay knows Ethiopia intimately, having lived and researched there over many years. He has produced the first truly comprehensive guide to the monuments of this beautiful, culture-steeped country, as well as offering a literary companion. Here is a guide to Ethiopia's architecture, geography, peoples, art and history, embracing all the major sites of the land over the ages. It will become the classic reference guide.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vi Foreword viii Acknowledgements x Preface 1 Part I The Land, the Church and the Travellers 13 1 An Outline Survey of Ethiopian History 15 2 The Ethiopian Church 40 3 Foreign Travellers in Ethiopia 60 Part II The Historical Sites of Ethiopia 67 4 Gondar 69 5 Gondar Churches, Qwesqwam and Islambet 142 6 Sites near Lake Tana 165 7 Harar 177 8 Lalibela 187 9 The Church of Yimrehana Krestos 225 10 Aksum 231 11 Churches of Aksum 302 12 Debra Damo 336 13 Rock Churches in the Wuqro Region 345 14 Yeha 350 Chronological Table 361 Select Bibliography 368 Index 374

About the Author

Stuart Munro-Hay is among the foremost Western authorities on Ethiopian history and culture. He has excavated there and made frequent research visits throughout the country.

Reviews

'Munro-Hay is a scholar of distinction [whose book] delves deeply into all aspects of Ethiopia's ancient history [and] can be read with profit alike by the scholar, the 'ordinary' reader and the tourist.' - Richard Pankhurst, Director Emeritus, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa. 'Munro Hay is one of the foremost academic authorities of the region's history and culture...his enthusiam for the country is evident...he offers an authoritative contemporary understanding of the culture the visitor is witnessing.' -African Business 'It's a ground-breaking work that delivers expert knowledge with a light touch--but it's a heavy tome to carry: read before you travel.' -Sunday Times 'should prove valuable to both the discerning tourist and the armchair reader requiring an introduction to the country's cultural history...' Richard Pankhurst, Times Higher Education Supplement 'There are relatively few books available that explore the treasures of Ethiopia but Stuart Munro Hay has come up with a truly comprehensive guide to the architecture, geography, people, art and history of this often misunderstood country... A great companion for the traveller who really wants to understand everything there is to know about the archeological marvels that still exist in Ethiopia today.' -Odyssey, Spring/Summer 2002