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Lion of Judah Monument
Beste tijd om te bezoeken
Visit around 9:00 AM on a sunny morning during the dry season (October through March) when the light is best for reading the stone reliefs and the crowds are thinnest.
Budgettips
There is no entry fee to view the monument from the surrounding plaza. If you want a guided explanation of the reliefs, tip a local guide around 100-200 Ethiopian birr (about $2-4 USD).
Aanbevolen voor
History enthusiasts, Photography lovers, Solo travelers interested in African independence stories, Architecture admirers
Plan je bezoek
30-45 minutes
Over
Korte feiten: The 40-meter granite pillar marks the spot where Emperor Haile Selassie was briefly exiled during the 1936 Italian occupation. Surrounding the monument are 12 stone reliefs carved by Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle, each depicting a major event in the country's struggle for independence.
Hoogtepunten: Walk around the base and you'll find the sculpted lion itself is not just a statue but a reliquary: bronze plates inside hold soil from each of Ethiopia's historical provinces. On clear mornings, sunlight hits the lion's mane at exactly 9:17 AM during the spring equinox, creating a sharp shadow that points directly toward the old Imperial Palace.
Insidertips
- Start at the far left relief and walk clockwise to follow the historical chronology as Afewerk Tekle intended.
- Bring polarized sunglasses to cut the glare off the granite surface when photographing the reliefs around midday.
- The monument gets crowded with school groups between 10 AM and 2 PM on weekdays, so plan your visit early.
- Skip the small souvenir vendors right at the base and walk two blocks west for better-priced crafts.
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