MEDIEVAL ROCK CHURCH ARCHITECTURE

Background

• Medieval period is the time between 1000-1500

AD.(11th-16thAD)

• A time in which Christianity was becoming a

dominant religion in Ethiopia and in western

Europe

• The great Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals

were the dominant features in Europe.

Influences

Political and religious

• Almost all the early churches with built-up walls were

destroyed during religious wars, except the likes of the

famous Debre Damo Monastrey.

• In the 12th c. the centre of Ethiopian political power was

moved southwards to the province of Lasta, where a

new ruling dynasty, the Zagwe established its capital at

Roha, later renamed Lalibela.

• King Lalibela reign for some 30 years at the end of the

12th c. and beginning of 13thc.

• He was inspired to construct the famous churches after

his journey.

Influences

Regional influence

• Most of the medieval churches are built in areas

surrounded by rugged mountains and on top of an

inaccessible mountain tops.

• Some say that the rock churches were created at the

same spot where natural phenomena had preveiously

been worshiped; others argue that Ethiopians had some

knowledge of the excavated temples and burial-

chambers of Egypt and the Rock-hewn churches of

Cappa Docia in Asia-Minor.

The Ger-Alta area is famous not only

with its rock churches but also with its

fascinating landscape

• Abune Yemata Guh church

Influences Architectural

• Most of the architectural elements are adapted from the

Axumite styles

• The planning system also adapted from western

countries through Axum.

Rock churches

The possible explanation for the emergence of medieval Rock- Hewn churches

• Protection against wars, environmental factors like rain.

• The need for seclusion from the rest of the world.

• The desire to achieve permanence.

Characteristic features

• Types of rock churches

• Plans

• Sections

• Windows

• Doors

• Decoration

Types of Rock and

Cave churches Type 1. Built- up cave

churches

Type 2. Rock- hewn cave

churches

Type 3. Rock- hewn

monolithic churches

Type -1 Built up Cave churches

• Which are ordinary buildings placed inside a

natural cave for protection or seclusion.

• It is the least common case.

• The famous example is Yimrihanna Krestos.

Yimrihanna Krestos

Type -2

Rock - hewn cave churches

• Which are cut inwards from a more or less vertical cliff

face

• Sometimes using and widening an existing natural cave.

• In some case only the sanctuary part is cut into the rock

and the front parts are constructed of built-up masonry

• The principle as such has been used also in other

countries for churches as well as for non- Christian

temples.

• Mostly these churches are found in Tigray and Lalibela.

• Indian temples

Type -3

Rock - hewn monolithic churches • It always imitate a built up structure but are cut in one

piece from the rock and separated from it all around by a

trench.

• Mostly the churches in and near Lalibela belongs to this

type.

• Other countries have not constructed churches in this

particular manner.

PLANS Origin of the Ethiopian basilica

• The possible models are from the eastern Mediterranean

countries and/or along the Nile valley.

• Probably Armenia

• By the time the basilica plan was brought to Ethiopia, it

was probably regarded in its whole as the proper shape

for a Christian church

• Part of the concept was that the church should be

oriented with the holiest part towards the East

• The nave is not raised in the Ethiopian rock churches

meaning there is no clerestory.

European basilica

Apse

Nave

Aisle

Ethiopian basilica plan Apse(holy of holies)

• Three Apses is in the symbol of holly

trinity

• The square shaped Axumite type of

construction imposed itself in the

imported basilica plan.

• The basilica plan is used more than the

basilica section

• Three doors are the character of Christian

church

• The sanctuary part with the Holy of holies

faces towards the east in Ethiopian

churches

Section

• It is relatively easy in rock-hewn churches to make

arches (Lalibela) and Domes(Tigray) but they are not

structural.

• Roof are much thicker than walls

• Ethiopian rock churches are usually approached from

below if necessary through tunnels, in order to give the

same feeling as when going up to a built church standing

on elevated ground.

Windows

• Most of the windows in Lalibela can be

analyzed in terms of easily

understandable structural elements.

• When the decoration is purely

architectural it may consist of small

columns with bases and capitals, joined

by arches.

• The columns are much smaller than

normal

• If only the voids of such decoration is

regarded, as will be the case when light

through the windows is observed from

the interior side, these decorations may

create “keyholes” and other original

shapes.

Windows

• When the decoration

doesn’t consist of structural

elements, it usually depicts

variations of the christian

cross

Excavation techniques

• Excavation techniques for the

churches in type 2 & 3

1. first they cut one trench down

- to test the rock

- to drain water

2. they cut in wards through the

main western door and the

excavation is done by the use of

terraces

Internal and External Decorations

To Be Continued…..