Lecture 2. Pre-Axumite Art and Architecture (1).pdf

Pre-Axumite Ethiopia and Its Architecture
Prep. By Tsegaye Kassa, 2024/ 25
Pre Axumite/ Yeha Architecture
A. Introduction
• Art & Architecture as a Living History;
• Architecture is subject to social, political, and cultural influences. It reflects the
society and communicates the values of that society.
• Our architecture has so many stories to tell about us. It’s our personality and our
culture which is reflected in the structure/ shelter we build.

Introduction
• The tools and materials around the environments of the past people enabled them
to build shelter/dwellings (Environmental Determinism Theory: the theory that a
society’s physical environment– its geography, climate, and natural resources-
shapes its culture, behaviour, and development; its counterpoint- Possibilism
Theory, however, argues that while the physical environment sets some
boundaries, humans have the agency to shape their own paths within those limits.
The core idea is that nature doesn’t dictate destiny- it offers possibilities, and
people decide how to play the hand they are dealt.);
• What factors govern the architecture, be it temporal or permanent shelters used by
man? E.g.- Environment, Technological development, religion, etc.
Pre Axumite..

B. The Birth of Mankind
• Mankind’s first development emerged somewhere in eastern side of Africa;
• On the biggest steps in early human evolution scientists are in agreement, the first
human ancestors appeared between five million and seven million years ago,
probably when some apelike creatures in Africa began to walk habitually on two
legs.
• Human settlements emerged in river valley in India, Egypt, Mesopotamia and
China.
• The earliest villages in Ethiopia are discovered in Melka Konture.
Pre Axumite..

The Birth of Mankind
• In 1967 G.C. jaw bones and teeth of early form of mankind was found near the
lower valley of the Omo River, a prehistoric site near Lake Turkana, estimated to
date as far back as between one and 3.5 million years. UNESCO as of 2008.
• Primitive stone tools were found together with the remains. (Among the finds of the
Kenya group (led by Mr. Richard Leakey) of the 1967 International Paleontological Research Expedition to
the Omo River were three skulls and some skeletal material belonging to very early representatives
of Homo sapiens.)
• In 1969 G.C. Prehistoric “living floor” is discovered on the upper bank of Awash
Valley, Melka Konture, estimated to be 100,000 years old. UNESCO as of 2024. The
site spans 1.7 million years of human settlement.
Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..
Earliest Pre-Historic Culture in Africa

C. Prehistoric arts of Ethiopia
• The earliest forms of art are visible around Dire-Dawa and Harar. (Dire Dawa is
known for its many prehistoric cave paintings. Dating back an estimated 5000
years, the crude red, white and black figures depict humans and animals. 1. Goda-
Ajawa ጎዳ-አጃዋ - 63,000 to 1,000, though the paintings, including some palm
prints, in this lofty cave are good, they’re fewer and less varied than at Lega-Oda,
and graffiti around the paintings mars the site. It’s 28km (about one hour)
southeast of Dire Dawa on a much rougher road than to Lega-Oda. 2. Lega-Oda
ለጋ-ኦዳ - 5,000 to 3,000, By far the best cave-art site around Dire Dawa, this 70m-
long rock shelter holds some 600 paintings. The figures clearly show humans,
antelope, anteaters, camels and groups of lines and dots. 3. Porc-Epic ፖርክ ኤፒክ -
between 75,500 and 40,000 years ago, the best-known and easiest to reach cave
has a few rock formations, making it the most geologically interesting of the three,
but the paintings are largely obscured by soot.)
Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..
Prehistoric arts of Ethiopia

• Caves as dwelling sites;
• Can we talk about architecture? Do we have markers of Human touch?
• Types of Rock-cut sites?
 Natural, half-built & wholly monolithic;
• So far though difficult to determine (due to limited researches) the first two types
may be considered.
Pre Axumite..

• Unlike cave paintings in the other places, prehistoric paintings found in Ethiopia
portray domestic animals.
• Domestication of cattle was introduced to Ethiopia from Indian & Arab prehistoric
societies.
• Later it spread to other parts of Africa .
• Prehistoric monoliths are also indicators of human activities.
Pre Axumite..

• The largest and most representative collection of stelae are located in Tiya,
Ethiopia. (Tiya, UNESCO IN 1980, between 10th and 15th centuries AD, though debatable, is a
town in central Ethiopia. It is situated in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations,
Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa. It is also the location of an
archaeological site)
• Forty-six stelae were erected in the cemetery between the tenth and fifteenth
centuries B.C.
• The stelae of Tiya have carvings representing swords and various mysterious signs
• Erecting megalithic monuments is ancient tradition in Ethiopia.
Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..

• Let us see arts in the caves of Ethiopia)
• Technical Terms, Execution Techniques & related symbols;
 Pictographs (an ancient or prehistoric drawing or painting on a rock wall),
Petroglyphs (a carving or inscription on a rock) & Hieroglyphs (written in,
constituting, or belonging to a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters);
Pre Axumite..

D. Cultural Principles of Arts in Prehistoric Ethiopia
• Rule governed – scale, proportion, etc.
• Ethio-Arabean Style;
• Features - Hump-less, long-horned, rounded hooves, two limbs thicken together as
one, etc.
• Possible Purposes - religious, magic, communication media, etc.
• Finally as identity markers of our progenitors/ ancestors and ourselves;
Pre Axumite..

Cultural Principles of Arts in Prehistoric Ethiopia
Pre Axumite..
A cave at Porc-epic near Dire Dawa, dated at 400,000 years
and notable for its exquisitely accurate rendering of animal
forms – Antelope, cattle Jackal and hyena are clearly
identifiable
A Middle Stone Age occupation site at Porc-Epic
Cave, Dire Dawa (east-central Ethiopia)

E. Emergence of Early Civilization in Pre-Axumite Ethiopia
• Pre-Axumite Period" distinguishes an Ethiopian-Sabean Period (500-300 B.C.)
characterized by a deep Sabean influence and an Intermediate Period (300 B.C. -
100 A.D.) with a less direct influence from Yemen and an internal evolution towards
Axumite cultural patterns.
• Approximately 3,000 years ago farmers entered in the Ethiopian plateau and
developed small markets.
• These plateau market centers are evolved into states probably before 1000 B.C.E.
• The origin of state societies in the Horn of Africa has been attributed to economic
and political contacts with ancient Egypt.
Pre Axumite..

Emergence of Early Civilization
• Remains at Gobedra, an area near Axum, gave evidences for the birthplace of
earliest states. (The small-scale excavations at Gobedra have provided the first dated
succession of later Stone Age industries in northern Ethiopia, extending from before 8000 b.c.
down to historic times. Particular interest attaches to the level which is marked by the
appearance of pottery, an event which probably took place in the fourth or third millennium
b.c. This level has yielded seeds of cultivated finger millet (Eleusine coracana, which appear
to be the earliest extant trace of any of the indigenous African cereal crops. A single camel
tooth from the same horizon suggests that cultural contact between the Ethiopian highlands
and the Arabian peninsula were established significantly earlier than has previously been
believed.)
Pre Axumite..

• Pottery provides important information.
• Pottery is vital indicator of time in Archaeology
• In addition Paleography - study of ancient
writings and inscriptions - is important indicator
in Archaeology
Pre Axumite..

• The earliest known states in East Africa were Punt and Da’amat (The exact location of
the Land of Punt is still disputed by historians, scholars, archaeologists, and others in the
present day. Through the years it has been cited as part of Arabia, present-day Somalia or
the Puntland State of Somalia at the Horn of Africa, the Sudan, Eritrea, or some other
internal region of east Africa.), Da’amat , 980 – 400 BC, was the first Kingdom in Ethiopia.
This region is important to world history because scientists believe that this is the birthplace
of the human civilisation. The oldest human skulls, two adults and one child’s were
discovered in Herto, Ethiopia in 1997. They were dated to be 160,000 years old.)
Pre Axumite..

• Traditional Farming method may have been introduced from Egypt through Punt.
• Similarly wheat, barley, and ploughing may have been introduced from Egypt too.
• The emergence of Agriculture may be reason for the establishment of settlements.
• Also the first shelter is believed to be the product of Agriculture.
• The earliest dwelling in pre-Axumite Ethiopia may have used post and lintel
construction.
• And it was similar to traditional flat topped houses of Tigray.
• The chief material used was assumed to be clay brick.
• www.britannica.com www.worldhistory.org (World History Encyclopedia)
Pre Axumite..

F. The Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C approximately )
• Sabean kingdom is an Ancient kingdom founded in south Arabia (now Yemen); (The
Sabeans were the first Arabians to step within the threshold of civilization.)
• Founded by Sheba(Saba) the biblical figure who paid a visit to King Solomon.
• In Islamic legend she is named as Bilqis;
Pre Axumite..

F. The Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C approximately )
• In Ethiopia legends also known as Makeda; (according to lore and legend, is the
mysterious and majestic Queen of Sheba, and the beloved of King Solomon
of Judea. However, according to the Old Testament , she is portrayed as a chaste
and unnamed queen of the land of Sheba heard of the great wisdom of King Solomon of
Israel and journeyed there with gifts of spices, gold, precious stones, and beautiful wood and
to test him with questions, as recorded in First Kings 10:1-13 (2 Chronicles 9:1–12))
Pre Axumite..

The Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C approximately )
• Sabean were pre-Christian societies who influenced ancient Ethiopia civilizations
including Axum.
• Historical and Archeological evidences suggest Sabean people immigrated from
South Arabia to northern Ethiopia
Pre Axumite..

The Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C
approximately)
• Although there is no proof yet for their political
role.
• The altars, inscriptions, stelae, temples, secular
structures, tombs and other material left by
then Sabean- influenced Ethiopian population
occur in considerable numbers even from the
few excavated sites.
Pre Axumite..

Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C approximately )
• Features such as dressed** stone building,
writing and iron-working may have been
introduced by Sabeans.
**Descriptive of stone which has been prepared, shaped,
or finished by cutting, planning, rubbing, or sanding one or
more of its faces.
The Sabaean Temple of Almaqah in Addi Akaweh
(Tigray) is recent discovery . The picture shows the
incense burner.
Sabaean Scripts
Ibex
Pre Axumite..

Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C approximately )
• The Sabean tablets for offerings (a gift to gods) contain ornaments .
• These ornaments contain animal heads.
• Ibex was the sacred animal in Ethio-Sabean culture.
• However the Arabian influence was not consistent. Evidences indicate there was
influence from north.
Pre Axumite..

Sabean Influence (500 - 300 B.C
approximately )
• Ibex was connected with the
worship of ILMUQAH(chief god and
protector of the Sabeans)
Pre Axumite..

• The pagan Sabean religious symbol was by “the Disk and the Crescent".
• The Sabean gods were also worshiped in Pre-Axumite period
• Similar Archeological evidences from Yemen and North Ethiopia showed the
parallel cultural development.
“the Disk and the Crescent".
*Paganism consists beliefs and practices associated with the worship of nature. Paganism may take many forms, including
pantheism (belief that the whole of reality is divine), polytheism (belief in many gods), and animism (belief that natural
features of the world are invested with divine power).
Pre Axumite..

• South Arabian gods worshiped in pre-Christian period
 Astar (like the chief of gods)
 Ilmuqah (chief god and protector of the Sabaeans),
 Nuru (the luminous, the dawn),
 Habas (Hawbas, probably an aspect of the moon- god),
 Dhat Himyam (the incandescent) and Dhat Ba`adan (the distant) both female
aspects of Shams, the sun, perhaps representing the summer and winter sun,
Pre Axumite..

The Sabean Influence
• “the Disk and the Crescent“ was the symbol of Sabean religion
• A stone altar found at Azbi-Dera and stele still standing at Matara near Senafe Eritrea have
samples of the Sabean “the Disk and the Crescent“
• The ornament in the Altar, which is clearly Architectural ,shows similar character with the
"Aksumite" type of window carpentry the same as the patterns of the largest steles at
Aksum.
• The ornamentation of the altar probably symbolizes a temple or a palace
Pre Axumite..

The Sabean Influence
• The ornamentation of the altar probably symbolizes a temple or a palace
stele at Matara
The ornament in the Altar, On of the Stelae of Aksum
Pre Axumite..

Sabaean Influence
• Stele (plural stelae) – is a grave monument or tall slender upright standing stones.
• Stelae are found along with temples. For example in the Temple of Yeha.
• The largest stelae may have platforms at the base.
• These platforms had circular depressed spaces and other arrangements for the
ritual offering of animals and probably also of vegetable products.
Pre Axumite..

Obelisk vs. Stele
• Obelisk is A monumental, four-sided stone shaft, usually monolithic and tapering
to a pyramidal tip. In Egyptian art, such a shaft mostly covered with hieroglyphs;
originally erected as a cult symbol to the sun god.
The ancient Egyptian temple at Luxor.
Washington Monument ,a
marble obelisk 169 m tall,
completed in 1884 monument to
George Washington.
Pre Axumite..

The code of Hammurabi is
engraved on the black basalt of
this 2.25m stele
Mayan stelae,
San Diego
Obelisk vs. Stele
• Stele - is an ancient stone slab or pillar, usually engraved, inscribed, or painted, and
set upright. In classical architecture and derivatives it is an upright stone, usually a
slab, marking a grave.
Pre Axumite..

Character of Sabean script
Usually Curved on stones
Sabean Influence
• The Sabean scripts are the sources of Amharic letters.
• The Sabean scripts are More geometrical than modern Amharic letters.
• The scripts represent entirely consonants.
Pre Axumite..

Sabaean Influence
• In Geez changes introduced to the letters so that the vowel sound after the
consonant was also defined and a complete syllable
Pre Axumite..
Character of Geez (Ethiopic) script
usually written with a blunt reed pen:

G. Pre-Axumite Building Technology & Architecture- Temple of Yeha
• Oldest well-preserved building in Ethiopia (built more than 2500 years ago, in
Sabean times)
• Marker of the country’s earliest high civilization
Pre Axumite..

Temple of the Moon ( approximately around 500 B.C* )
• The Culture of Damaat and also pre-aksumite period in general was an urban and
peri-urban culture.
• The Kingdom was able to unify small chiefdoms.
• The Damaat failed due to loss of control over maritime trade and collapse of the
federation .
• Yeha is the last remaining evidence of pre-aksumite Civilization.
Pre Axumite..

Temple of the Moon ( approximately around 500 B.C* )
• Stone dressing, construction techniques, and decorative elements applied to the
walls (i.e., the carved ibex frieze) indicate strong Sabaean influence.
Pre Axumite..

Construction Techniques
• The exterior dimensions of the rectangular-shaped temple structure are 18.5m x
15m (ca. 285 sq. meters). Height 12 meters.
Pre Axumite..

• It has among the oldest preserved masonry of dressed stone in Ethiopia - and some
of the best.
• The walls are smooth, with long well-cut sandstone blocks and excellent
straightness and tightness of joints. Masonry Courses are equal and about 30cm.
Pre Axumite..

• Construction perfection is the most significant feature of the temple.
• Regular rectangular sandstone blocks of up to 3 m length were used to construct
the walls
• A Study predict that the sandstone must have been quarried from a massive
sandstone bed. The sandstone walls are about 60cm thick.
Pre Axumite..

• there are two layers in the walls interconnected to each other by smaller blocks of stone
which serve as anchors
• The construction perfection gave it a monolithic character
Pre Axumite..

• Dry wall construction was employed, using well-dressed, limestone blocks
• Regular rectangular blocks of up to 3m length were used to construct the wall,
without the use of any mortar.
Pre Axumite..

• The only apparent exterior openings in the high walls of the original structure were
the two windows at the front of the building, and the grand entrance centered just
below the windows on the same wall.
Pre Axumite..

Architectural Features
• The entrance, facing west, appears to have been approached by a formal masonry
staircase.
• Upon entering, one would have faced south and would have encountered the
opening to a narrow thinner room
Pre Axumite..

• At the rear of this inner chamber, would probably have been the altar.
• Krencker (Daniel Krencker (15 July 1874, Andolsheim – 10 November 1941, Berlin)
was an Alsatian-German architectural historian. German "Aksum Expedition",
February 1906), identified this interior room as the inner shrine of a pagan temple.
Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..

• Off to the rear, right hand comer of the temple proper an interior staircase (of
wood) is supposed by Krencker to have led up to the second storey of the temple.
• That the temple had a second storey is evidenced by the wall masonry which
provided - signs of the existence of four centrally-positioned vertical support
columns on the ground floor, and by the presence of the two upper storey windows
above the front entrance
Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..
Reconstructed view
of Yeha Temple

Basic Architectural Characteristics
• well-dressed, limestone blocks fitted with great precision along each course and at
each joint.
• The resulting walls rise from the ground with a clean, straight, vertical and
horizontal aspect
• The walls are smooth, with long well-cut blocks, excellent straightness and
tightness of joints
Pre Axumite..

• Outer faces, edges and corners are nicely dressed with great precision
• The wall thickness is about 60 cm.
Pre Axumite..

• Flat roof - The roof of the original temple is believed by Krencker to have been flat.
But no archaeological signature.
• The presence of an interior staircase, leads him to hypothesize further that the
temple may have served as a community strong point or citadel during times of
unrest.
Pre Axumite..

• Under such circumstances, Krencker would not have been surprised if the flat roof
was designed as a battlement (wall fortification) from which defenders could fire
down upon those besieging the structure.
Pre Axumite..

• The wall, whose total thickness is about 60 cm, is not just a single structure but
there are two walls interconnected to each other by smaller blocks of stone which
serve as anchor.
Pre Axumite..

• The floor is also superbly built with 5 layers of variously sized blocks some
measuring 1m by 50 cm, others 1m by 1m or 50 cm by 50 cm
Pre Axumite..

Basic Architectural Characteristics – (In Summary)
• The Sabean walls:-
– Smooth,
– long well-cut blocks,
– straightness
– Tight joints , junctions
– Perfect corners
Pre Axumite..

H. Pre-Axumite Domestic Architecture
Dingur palace
• Located about 700m east of Ta’akha Maryam and less than 2km southwest of the
Cathedral;
• This palace is the best preserved and therefore the most spectacular of the elite
residences.
• Traditions strongly attribute the palace to the famous legendary Queen of Sheba,
who ruled Axum some 3000 years ago.
Pre Axumite..

Dingur palace
• The overall plan is similar to that of Ta’akha Maryam, in which the central pavilion (
a single body or mass of buildings contained with simple walls and single roof )
measures 18 meter square and has similar layout, with massive, well-dressed
granite slabs used as cornerstones.
Pre Axumite..

Dingur palace
• The surrounding courtyards are smaller and closer, and the whole complex
measure only 55 x 52m over all.
• the pavilion’s indented plan resulted in four quadrangular corner towers; possibly
three–storeyed.
• The rooms had columns to support the ceiling.
• The podium ( low wall serving as a foundation)on which it lay still has one
monumental, beautiful flight of stone steps approaching it to the east and a double
stairway approaching the southern entrance.
Pre Axumite..

Dingur palace
• Two waterspouts protrude from the western wall, presumably in their original
position.
• Despite some recent reconstructions, it is still possible to observe the peculiar
original masonry, which consisted of polygonal (bounded by straight lines) coursed
and uncoursed rubble as well as complete courses of dressed blocks, the latter
being found in Axum only as the base of the cathedral’s podium and at the Tomb of
Kaleb.
Pre Axumite..

Pre Axumite..
Private Residence

Lecture 2. Pre-Axumite Art and Architecture (1).pdf

More Related Content

Similar to Lecture 2. Pre-Axumite Art and Architecture (1).pdf (17)

More from dagmawitgetahune (14)

Recently uploaded (20)

Lecture 2. Pre-Axumite Art and Architecture (1).pdf