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Ethiopia

Did you know that Ethiopia has one of the longest standing traditions of Christian practice in the world?

Gospel Book
Getty Conversations

by Kelin Michael

Aksumite coins — The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia's northern border.

City of Aksum

by UNESCO

Contemporary artist Sheila Hicks discusses the geometric iconography and calligraphy of this Ethiopian prayer book

Sheila Hicks on The Harp of Praise ...

by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Diptych with Mary and Her Son Flanked by Archangels, Apostles and a Saint, Ethiopia, 15th century, tempera on wood, left panel: 8 7/8 x 7 13/16 x 5/8 inches (The Walters Art Museum) — The earliest known Ethiopian icons have been dated to the fifteenth century and typically portray the Virgin and Child, the Apostles, and Saint George.

An Ethiopian icon

by Dr. Jacopo Gnisci

Christian Ethiopian art — Ethiopia’s Christian heritage predates much of Europe’s, and includes churches hewn from living rock.

Christian Ethiopian art

by Dr. Jacopo Gnisci

Illuminated Gospel — This 15th century manuscript is based on Egyptian Coptic sources, but its creators imbued it with local flair.

Illuminated Gospel

by Dr. Christa Clarke

Aksumite coins — Pious, multilingual, and technologically advanced, these coins were currency in more ways than one.

Aksumite Coins

by The British Museum

Kingdom of Aksum — By 400 C.E., Aksum was a sophisticated Christian empire with a written language and an international reputation.

The kingdom of Aksum

by The British Museum

Julie Mehretu, Stadia II — In this work, a contemporary Ethiopian artist explores the utopian potential of chaos in a globalizing world.

Julie Mehretu, Stadia II

by Dr. Allison Young