The Role of Landscape in Semi-rock-hewn and Cave Churches of Tämben and ᵓƎndärta (Tәgray region, Ethiopia)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the results of studies of little-known monuments of the church architecture of the Tәgray region (Ethiopia) — semi-rock-hewn and cave churches of historical provinces of Säḥart, Tämben and ᵓƎndärta. The authors consider the most interesting examples of both individual churches and monastery-complexes created on the basis of cave formations. These monuments illustrate various options for the interaction between architecture and landscape. These monuments have been studied much lesser than the rock-hewn basilicas of the Gärʽalta district. The article presents an analysis of new material collected as a result of the expedition carried out as part of the project no. 19–012–00299 with financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research; issues of dating, historical and cultural significance of monuments and their preservation are considered. The article is devoted to the following monuments: the semi-rock-hewn, cave churches of Yoḥannәs Mäṭmәq Koholo (near Mäq̱älä) and Mikaʼel Ṣäḥilo in the Gǝğät area, the semi-rock monastery complex Abunä Arägawi Zäyä and Kidanä Mǝḥrät Tänsǝḥe in Dǝggwǝʽa Tämben. Especially examined surviving fragments of murals of Yoḥannәs Mäṭmәq Koholo church, dating from the 17th century. This church is noted in the report of the expedition of the University of Hamburg under the guidance of D. Nosnitsin, but its architecture was not specifically considered. This article first publishes architectural plan and section of this monument. The church of Mikaʼel Ṣäḥilo was first discovered and briefly described by R. Plant in the 1970s. However, from that time this church has not been studied. R. Plant described the monastery of Abunä Arägawi in general terms, but she could not visit the complex, and, as a result, its internal structure, the location of the buildings were not published previously. In this work, for the first time, a plan of the complex and its longitudinal section are published. Kidanä Mǝḥrät Tänsǝḥe previously in the scientific literature were presented very fragmentary. Unfortunately, both of its semi-rock-hewn cave churches are lost today. The article also indicates some features of these monuments.