Architecture of Ethiopia

[1] Sabaen texts from Yeha mention a certain Lhy, of the Grb clan, of the family of Ygdm'I Fqmm of Marib consecrating his worldly goods and his son Hyrmh to ʿAṯtar and Almaqah.

Styles incorporated more wood and rounder structures in commoner's architecture in the center of the country and the south, and these stylistic influencies were manifested in the slow construction of churches and monasteries.

The most famous example of Ethiopian rock-hewn architecture are the 11 monolithic churches of Lalibela, carved out of the red volcanic tuff found around the town.

Archaeologist and Ethiopisant David Phillipson postulates, for instance, that Bete Gebriel-Rufa'el was actually built in the very early medieval period, some time between 600 and 800 A.D., originally as a fortress but was later turned into a church.

During the early modern period, the absorption of new diverse influences such as Baroque, Arab, Turkish and Gujarati Indian style began with the arrival of Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Portuguese soldiers had initially come in the mid-16th century as allies to aid Ethiopia in its fight against Adal, and later Jesuits came hoping to convert the country.

Some Turkish influence may have entered the country during the late 16th century during its war with the Ottoman Empire (see Habesh), which resulted in an increased building of fortresses and castles.

[5] Hassan ibn Ahmed Al Haymi, Yemeni Ambassador to Ethiopia in 1684, mentions that besides the Fasil Ghebbi the rest of Gondar was made tukuls, or huts which he describes as “nets of grass”.