Yeha was a center of the Da'amat kingdom, a pre—Aksumite civilization that flourished eight to nine centuries before the birth of Christ. One of the remains of this great civilization is the Temple of Yeha - the oldest standing structure in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a magnificent structure remarkable for, among other things, its structural strength, geometrical perfection and architectural beauty.
Previous studies indicated that the origin of Yeha's civilization was southern Arabia, a mirroring of the civilization that flourished particularly in Yemen. However, this view, it turns out, was sheer conjecture. Recent findings confirm that the tailwind of civilization, in fact, blew the other way around. After the Advent of Christianity, Abune Aftse, one of the Nine Saints, built his monastery next the ancient temple.
Over the centuries, Yeha has attracted several international travelers. The first known foreign traveler who visited Yeha was the 16th century traveler Francisco Alvares. Famous travelers like the Scot James Bruce and the Brit Henry Salt have visited Yeha in the 18th and 19th centuries respectively. The treasures of the church of Abune Aftse are kept on the upper floor of a two-storey building resembling a traditional house, located north of the church. Leather bible pouches, crowns, crucifixes, stone inscriptions and illustrated manuscripts are displayed in this small museum.
- Yeha Archaeological Site
The Ancient Settlement in the Abyssinian Highlands of Tigray. This spectacular archaeological complex is located about 54km northeast of Aksum. It can be easily reached by car via the completely asphalted highway linking Aksum to Adigrat through the magnificent scenery of the Adwa Mountains. Keep following the road beyond Adwa until the signboard indicating Yeha appears on the left side of the road, approximately 49km from Aksum. Then turn left onto the unpaved track and follow it about 5km until it reaches the square at the center of the village. The famous temple and Abba Aftse Church are located on the small round hill above the village square.
GRAT Be'AL GIBRI: THE MONUMENTAL BUILDING IN YEHA
- GRAT Be'AL GIBRI: THE MONUMENTAL BUILDING IN YEHA
- Grat-Beal-Gebri.jpg (79.19 KiB) Viewed 1207 times
This edifice was built on a high podium with a monumental portico reached by a roughly built stepped structure. Pieces of dressed stone from this structure can be found throughout the building, suggesting that the rubble masonry would have been finished with dressed ashlar. Some of the huge monolithic sandstone pillars remain in their original location, pointing to a building that matched the temple in scale and quality of workmanship. The German Archaeological Institute has started new excavations on the building, which can be dated between 8th and 9th century BC.