Nowhere in the article does it explain why they were built underground. Was it cooler or what?
The churches are entirely hidden from view from all but a short distance away, so one school of thought says that it was to keep them safe from those who might wish to destroy them.
Because that's where the rock was.
***Nowhere in the article does it explain why they were built underground. Was it cooler or what?***
Many, many years ago a NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine had an article about Ethieopian churches.
In the article it said the moslems destroyed so many churches that the Christians began to hack new churches ot of living rock that could not be burned.
Here is a link that explains that these churches were NOT carved out of granite (which would have been almost impossible) but out of volcanic tuff, a much softer material. Still a major achievement. The article also explains the politics and why it was hidden, thank the Muslims once again, among others.
http://www.ethiopiatravel.com/Lalibela_eng.htm