Within the country of Ethiopia, there is a place called Lalibela, where they are know all over for their monolithic churches.
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This is an example of one of these astounding churches, beneath the ground, that was cut out of a single piece of rock.
- This church is speculated to have been build in ca. 1187.
- The Zagwe dynasty (founded ca 1137) reached it's peak under King Lalibela (ca 1185-1285).
- He is accredited for building a set of eleven of these monolithic churches.
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Under a threat from the forces of Islam, the kingdom had retreated into these ridges, enabling them to still control the Red Sea ports that links central and southern African trade routes. These ridges had several springs which gave both agricultural and symbolic value.
- These churches are cut out of one single solid, volcanic rock.
- They were founded in the new capital city of Roha, now known as Lalibela.
- This city is located on a high ridge above the Takkaze River (340 km north of Addis Ababa).
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"The churches are highly unusual in their overall conception. Not only do they constitute a holy land unto themselves, but they are a map of the holy city of Jerusalem, which King Lalibela had never seen, but imagined from descriptions in the Bible." (Ching p414)
- These churches are divided by a rock-cut channel called Yodannos, or the Jordan River.
- The largest of these churches, Bieta Giorgis, was carved into the shape of a cross.
- This building is approximately twelve meters in height, length and width, and sits atop a triple-stepped platform.
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"Though carved out of the living stone, it mimics a conventionally constructed building, replete with vaults and delicately chiseled acanthus leaves and gargoyles." (Ching p414)
Ching, Frank, Mark Jarzombek, and Vikramaditya Prakash. A Global History of Architecture. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2011. Print.
Great job! This reading response has actually gone above and beyond the requirements - except for one thing. I'd like to know more about how the artifacts connect to you as a person and modern day. For example, draw from your title and cite an example of something else that had to be on the "downlow". Otherwise great work.
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