Architecture in Bahir Dar

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Ethiopia has a lot of ancient historical sites. Some of the earliest Christian sites are in Ethiopia. The Zege Peninsula has several monasteries and churches, among them the Ura Kidane Mehret church, dating to the 16^th century. The Arc of the Covenant is said to have been stored there for about 400 years before it was moved to Aksum.

Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile, the major source of the Nile.

Following are pictures from Zege Peninsula in Lake Tana.

All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.

Ura Kidane Mehret church

From Wikipedia entry for Ura Kidane Mehret: Ura Kidane Mehret is a church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, located on the Zege peninsula in Lake Tana of Ethiopia. It is part of the complex of the Convent of Mercy. At least one author considers it the most attractive church in the Lake Tana region.

The convent was founded in the 14^th century by the saint Betre Mariyam (Amharic "Rod of Mary"), although the present circular church dates from the 16^th century. Its interior is decorated with numerous murals painted between 100 and 250 years ago; subjects include Negus Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam and his followers. The most significant were painted by Alaqa Engida during the reign of Emperor Menelik II. The church has its treasury in a nearby outbuilding, which contains the richly embroidered robes of Negus Tekle Haymanot and his wife Laqetch Gegre Mehdin, as well as the crowns of Emperor Yohannes IV, Emperor Tewodros II, Negus Tekle Haymanot, and Emperor Tekle Giyorgis.