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Ethiopia: lifting the mystery on rock churches 'built by angels'
AFP ^ | May 31, 2009 | Emmanuel Goujon

Posted on 06/01/2009 5:24:09 AM PDT by decimon

The ancient mystery shrouding Lalibela, Ethiopia's revered medieval rock-hewn churches, could be lifted by a group of French researchers given the go-ahead for the first comprehensive study of this world heritage site legend says was "built by angels".

The team will have full access to the network of 10 Orthodox chapels chiseled out of volcanic rock -- some standing 15 metres (42 feet) high -- in the mountainous heart of Ethiopia.

Local lore holds they were built in less than 25 years by their namesake, the 13th-century King Lalibela, with the help of angels after God ordered him to erect a "New Jerusalem".

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: History; Religion
KEYWORDS: ethiopia; godsgravesglyphs; lalibela; orthodox
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1 posted on 06/01/2009 5:24:09 AM PDT by decimon
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To: SunkenCiv

Angel digs ping.


2 posted on 06/01/2009 5:24:45 AM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon

3 posted on 06/01/2009 5:27:09 AM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon

Ping for later


4 posted on 06/01/2009 5:27:20 AM PDT by Ladycalif (Free - Ramos and Compean)
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To: decimon

They are kind of pretty.


5 posted on 06/01/2009 5:29:29 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: decimon

Gorgeous.

But- how long before a mosque is built atop the site?


6 posted on 06/01/2009 5:45:44 AM PDT by silverleaf ("Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal ( Martin Luther King))
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To: decimon

Thanks for the pictures; they are unique. I’ve never heard of this place.


7 posted on 06/01/2009 5:52:29 AM PDT by Humal
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To: silverleaf
But- how long before a mosque is built atop the site?

They went there to escape and defend from the expansion of Islam. It worked.

But that was then and this is now so you may be right.

8 posted on 06/01/2009 5:57:46 AM PDT by decimon
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To: Humal
Here is a site that tells more about the history of the site and gives more pictures.

http://www.ethiopiantreasures.toucansurf.com/pages/lalibela.htm

It says the churches “In Lalibela there are 11 churches cut out of solid red volcanic rock, which are constructed to represent Jerusalem.” I wonder why “11 churches” instead of 12 to represent the 12 tribes of Israel?

9 posted on 06/01/2009 5:59:20 AM PDT by Humal
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To: Humal
I wonder why “11 churches” instead of 12 to represent the 12 tribes of Israel?

United Angel Workers (UAW). The new work rules mandated double time for night work. Church building became cost prohibitive so the project couldn't be completed.

10 posted on 06/01/2009 6:24:43 AM PDT by decimon
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To: uglybiker

> “During the day the king would work with Ethiopian artisans and at night he would ‘be helped by angels’. Some even cite a key role by the Knights Templar,” she said, referring to one of the key Western Christian military orders of the Middle Ages.

Templar PING

Yes, we built these mysterious buildings, too.


11 posted on 06/01/2009 6:36:46 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: decimon; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; ...

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·

 
Gods
Graves
Glyphs
Thanks decimon. There may have been a topic about this, but it's been ages.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
 

·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society ·
· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google ·
· The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·


12 posted on 06/01/2009 8:25:56 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Humal

I’m probably very wrong here, but in the dim recesses of my age rattled brain I think that there are 11 mountains around Jerusalem.


13 posted on 06/01/2009 8:34:32 AM PDT by BruceysMom
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To: SunkenCiv
There may have been a topic about this, but it's been ages.

Ages, eh?

Maybe what the Frenchies come up with will be good.

14 posted on 06/01/2009 8:38:43 AM PDT by decimon
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To: Kolokotronis

Ping!


15 posted on 06/01/2009 9:29:55 AM PDT by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: silverleaf

Mosques? Never! Oil money fuels Moslum advances, Once the money runs out the Islamic people will just go back to killing each other. Ethiopia IS Christian and will be up to the day when Jesus returns.


16 posted on 06/01/2009 9:44:43 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade
Ethiopia IS Christian and will be up to the day when Jesus returns.

Fifty years ago one would have said the exact same thing about the good ol' US of A.

17 posted on 06/01/2009 9:56:42 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 133 of our national holiday from reality.)
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To: NYer

One of our parishioners is from near this place. He says he and I will go there someday. The churches have carved Maltese crosses in them.

There is a book about Ethiopia and the Ark of the Covenant (which is likely there in a monastery) which has a section on these churches. I recommend the book. Here’s a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Sign-Seal-Quest-Lost-Covenant/dp/0671865412/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243901115&sr=8-6


18 posted on 06/01/2009 5:08:25 PM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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To: Kolokotronis

Axum.


19 posted on 06/01/2009 6:54:30 PM PDT by Pelham (California, formerly part of the USA)
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To: Pelham
Here's where they say the Ark is kept:

20 posted on 06/02/2009 4:06:41 AM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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