The Lalibela churches ( The 8th wonder of the world )

They say it's the 8th wonder of the world. Once the thriving and populous capital city of medieval dynasty, Lalibela, is indeed the 8th wonder with its 13 rock-hewn churches cut out of a solid red volcanic rock. Some of the churches lie almost completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves. A complex and bewildering labyrinth of tunnels and narrow passageways with offset crypts, grottoes and galleries connects the churches.

Formerly known as Roha, it now the name of King Lalibela (1181—1221) member of the Zagwe dynasty. Shortly after his birth at Roha, the future mystical life began to unfold. Legend has it that one day his mother saw him happily in his cradle surrounded dense swarm of bees. Recalling an old Ethiopian belief that the animal could foretell the advent of important personages, she cried out: ‘The bees know this child will become King.’ Accordingly she called her son ‘Lalibela’, which means ‘the bee recognizes his sovereignty’.

Lalibela’s older brother, Harbay, the incumbent monarch, was disturbed to hear this news and became jealous.

As the years passed, he began to feat for the safety of his throne and decided to eliminate his rival, and unsuccessfully tried to have his brother murdered. By giving him a deadly potion that left the young prince mortal sleep. During the three-day stupor, Lalibela was transported by angels the first, second, and third heavens, where God ordered him to return to Roha and build churches, the like of which the world had never seen before. The Almighty, it is said, further told the prince how to design those churches, where to build them, and how to decorate them.

Legend has also it that Lalibela was built by angels armed with masonry tools. No one knows the true story of how these churches came to be. Archaeologists say it would have required the work of 40,000 men to carve the labyrinths of grottoes, courtyards, caverns, and walls out of the mauve-colored rock.

Physically raised from the rock in which they stand, these towering edifices seem to be of superhuman creation in scale, work­manship and concept. Some lie almost completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves. A complex and bewildering labyrinth of tunnels and narrow passageways with offset crypts, grottos, and galleries con­nects them all. Throughout this mysterious and wonderful settlement, priests and deacons go about their timeless business, scarcely seeming aware that they are living in what has become known as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

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