Architecture in Ethiopia

Gondar was the third capital of Ethiopia, after Aksum and Lalibela. It was the capital from 1632 till 1855.

From 1632 till 1755, the Gondar kings ruled Ethiopia.

One reason for establishing a capital at this location was that it was malaria free.

Following is a list of the Gondar kings.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end
Susenyos I	1572 – 17 September 1632	1606	17 September 1632
Fasilides	1603 – 18 October 1667	1632	18 October 1667
Yohannes I	c. 1640 – 19 July 1682	1667	19 July 1682
Iyasu I	1654 – 13 October 1706	19 July 1682	13 October 1706
Tekle Haymanot I	28 March 1684 – 30 June 1708	27 March 1706	30 June 1708
Tewoflos	Died 14 October 1711	1 July 1708	14 October 1711
Yostos	Died 1716	14 October 1711	19 February 1716
Dawit III	1695 – 18 May 1721	8 February 1716	18 May 1721
Bakaffa	Died 19 September	18 May 1721	19 September 1730
Iyasu II	21 October 1723 – 27 June 1755	19 September 1730	27 June 1755
Iyoas I	c. 1740 – 14 May 1769	27 June 1755	7 May 1769

Several of the Gondar kings built their own palace in the Fasil Ghebbi (the Royal Enclosure), from which the emperors once reigned. The most famous buildings in the city lie in the Royal Enclosure, which include Fasilides' castle, Iyasu's palace, Dawit's Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Empress Mentewab's castle, a chancellery, library and three churches. The Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fasilides ruled from 1632 till 1667 and built the first palace. Yohannes I (1667 - 1682) built the second palace. The 3^rd palace was built by king Iyasu I (1682 - 1706). The 4^th palace was built by king Dawit III (1716 - 1721), the 5^th palace by king Bakaffa (1721 - 1730), and the 6^th one by Iyasu II (1730 - 1755).

All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.

Fasil Ghebbi (Gondar Royal Enclosure)

View of the Royal Enclosure with Castle of Fasilides (right) and Palace of Iyasu I (center). (920k)

Castle of Fasilides. (698k)

Castle of Fasilides. (762k)

Castle of Fasilides. (1197k)

Dining room Fasilides' Castle. (737k)

Inside Fasilides' Castle. (792k)

Decorations in Fasilides' Castle. (799k)

Library of Yohannes I (foreground) and Archive of Fasilides (background). (850k)

Archive of Fasilides. (1069k)

Inside the Archive of Fasilides. (983k)

Library of Yohannes I. (671k)

Palace of Iyasu I (front) and Castle of Fasilides (back). (1008k)

Palace of Iyasu I. (823k)

Back of Palace of Iyasu I. (1298k)

Ruins of banquet hall and storage facilities. (1020k)

Palace of Bakaffa. (1046k)

Palace of Bakaffa with the large banquet hall on the right, holding 300 people. (997k)

Palace of Empress Mentewab and Iyasu II. (932k)

Dawit's Hall. (926k)

Inside Dawit's Hall. (1139k)

Gondar

Bath of Fasilides. To celebrate Epiphany, the bath is filled with water for 10 days and used to celebrate baptism. (977k)

Wall near the bath with strangler figs growing on it. It is the oldest in town. (1287k)

Wall near the bath with strangler figs growing on it. (1.5M)

The other side of the wall near the bath with strangler figs growing on it. (1387k)

Mausoleum for Fasilides' horse named Suviel. (914k)

Debra Berhan Selassie church, built by Iyasu I

This was the only church that survived the destruction of churches in Gondar by Muslims in 1881. In the back is a cemetery and a religious school. Students live in huts, 4-5 students per hut. On top of the church is a Gondar cross, with real ostrich eggs. The paintings are originals. Good persons are shown with a front face, bad persons with side face.