Ancient Monuments: A Reminiscence of Ethiopia's Glories (Part One)

After decades of experience, no matter how painful it is for me, I have to admit the fact that the dominating majority of Ethiopians including the educated, seldom sit down, that is if they ever do, and examine the facts with calm, sober and pedantic fashion at least for themselves. That is why among the myriads of examples of Arab words like "our Medina," has become an everyday expression even by the educated Ethiopians. So are many Arab words and phrases which have become the identity of today's Ethiopia - A country with its capital city that has become one of the recurrent debacle and land of Child and various age group Prostitution and Pimps, thanks to the minority Agame junta and their lapdog followers.

Let me now do my very best to briefly demonstrate how these ancient monuments that are the reminiscence of Ethiopia's glories and which if proper action is taken can be the great pride for the future generations to follow.

Before I present the concrete facts about both the fast decay and gradual destruction of the Monumental castles of Emperor Fasiledes and the frightening threat of becoming demolished of the Churces of Lalibela. I want to thank the fellow Ethiopian for whom we have generously paid for helping us in collecting the material needed for the laboratory tests from the roof tops and walls of the Churches of Lalibela.

Followed by laboratory tests and findings by a group of experts extra hour work, energy and a lot of money we have spent together with my trusted friend and compatriot, professor Addisu Koch. As initially told to us by the chemistry experts in Europe, enough quantities were brought out of Ethiopia by my trusted friend and compatriot who visited almost half of the countries main cities, towns and villages including Tigray, Lalibela, Dessie, Gonder, Gojam, Jimma, Gambella, Arusi, Nazret and it's nearby areas, DireDawa, Jijiga etc..

The sample brought out of Ethiopia from Lalibella's Churches was analyzed in one of Europe's top organic and non-organic chemistry laboratories. After we got the result printed by the analyzing computer machine, together with my compatriot we started our research study of European and Chinese experience of prevention and restauration which we finally decided to concentrate on

1. Tsar-Russia; The Soviet-Russia and today's Russian-Federation.

2. From German experience of restauration of buildings partially damaged and or completely destroyed buildings during "the First World War" ( I put it in quotation mark the term First World War because of my knowledge of history, the reason of the war and the surface area in kilometers in which the war was fought and the facts on the ground), the so called First World War was an inter-Imperialist war in a most technical and qualified sense. Hence if there was no First World War you can not have a Second World War either. It seems as if Europeans and Americans have given this absurd, self righteous and arrogance naming it based on their dream and assumption of: We are the World and the World is ours.

Let us now review these ancient monuments:

Lalibela monumental Churches located in SemienWello at roughly 2500 meters above sea level, which is the main town of Lasta. Built during the reign of Saint GebreMesqelLalibela - a member of the Zagwe dynasty who ruled Ethiopia from 12th to 13th Century.

The first European to see these unique monumental Churches of Lalibela was the Portuguese Pero (Pedro?) Covilha (1460-1526). Followed by the Portuguese priest Fransesco Alvarez (1465-1540), who accompanied the Ambassador on his visit to LebneDengel in 1520's.He(is) described the wonders of Lalibela as the Worlds great monumental wonder. He concludes: " I am weary of writing more about these buildings, because it seems to me that I shall not be believed if I write more....I swear by God in whose power I am, that all I have written is the truth .".

The other European to visit these monuments was Manuel de Castanoso who served in one of the great friends of Ethiopia - Christavos da Gama (The son of Vasco da Gama) who was beheaded by the savage al- Ghazi (known by Ethiopians as GrangMuhammed)-Christavo da Gama was captured by al-Ghazi and when he repeatedly refused to be converted to Islam he was beheaded by Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim al Ghazi himself who worshiped a burglar, a child molester and rapist role model.

> After Christavo da Gama was captured and was finally beheaded by the savage al-Ghazi, Emperor Gelawdios organized a huge Ethiopian army and defeated the savage al-Ghazi.

Emperor Gelawdios but also one of the rare friend and comrade in arms- Christavo da Gama both deserve a statue.

Afterall, in today's Ethiopia ruled by the minority fascist Agame junta we have statue built in Jijjiga of the man named SayydMuhammed Abdullah Hassan who fought, killed, mimed thousands of Ethiopians and burned countless churches and caused a lot of destruction to the neighboring Ethiopian territories. Close your eyes for three minutes what Ethiopia would have looked like today if the savage barbarian al-Ghazi and his foot soldiers were successful!

Going back to the main topic:

One: (1)

LALIBELA monumental Churches:

A. The Northern Monumental Churches: 1. Bête MedhaneAlem (=House of the savior of the world), home to the Saint and Emperor Lalibela's cross and believed to be the largest Monolitic Church in the World. 2. Bête Mariam.3. Bête Golgota Mikael, known for its art (and) and said to contain the tomb of Emperor Lalibela. 4. Bête Meske. 5. Bête Denagel( Housecof the virgins). B. The Western Goup: 6. Bête Giorgis among the remaining one. C. The Eastern group: 6. Bête Amanuel. 7. Bête QeddusMercorius (House of Saint Mark). 8. Bête Aba Libanos. 9. Bête Gebriel-Rufael. 9. Bête Lehem (BêteLehem: Hebrew ( House of the Holy Bread). And, further afield we find The Monastery of Ashetan Maryam and YemrehaneKirstos Churches - Which are today UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

TWO(2)

FASILDES:.6; The ancient marvels of an ancient monument built by Emperor Fasiledes ( 1603 - 1667) where he founded Gonder in 1635 and built the following monuments in a 70,000 square meter area which includes: 1. Fasiledes Castle. 2. Iyasus 1st (first) palace. 3. Dawit 3rd's (thirds) Hall. 4. A banqueting Hall. 5. A Chancellery. 6. Libraries.7. and three (3) Churches within the compound, but all together Fasiledes built 7 (seven) Churces. 8. AsasammeQuedus Mikael. 9..ElfingGiorgis. 10. Gebjabet Maryam. 11.The Emperor Fusillades bath which every year people gathering there to celebrate Timket (=Epiphany), originally the bath masterminded and supplied by a canal from nearby river. The city of Gonder served as the Imperial Capital of Ethiopia for 250 (Two-hundred-fifty) years prior to the rise of the great Emperor Tewodros II.

>According to many Europeans who visited the then Gonder and now in the last years of the previous millennium Professor Ali Mazuri (Ali Al' Amin Mazuri) a black African born in Mombassa, Kenya and a renowned professor of many awards who have studied the history of Africa and Ethiopia in particular have made extensive research and after finding out the history written by many Europeans have written books and can also be found in his encyclopedia as well as mentioned in his documentary film about Africa-"The Africans".

During the era of ZemeneMesafint ("The era of the princess") of the fiefdoms of Ethiopia, they even looted the bed of Fassiledes made out of massive wood with various inscriptions and decorated with gold and ivory where the domes of the castle glittering with gold, the banqueting halls, reception chambers glittering with gold silver and ivory. Furthermore, The 7 (seven) beautiful Churches walls and tower decorated with paintings and glittering with gold, silver and ivory. Similarly, guest rooms beds with massive woods were also decorated with silver and ivory. All those who have visited and they are many:

All without exception write the above statements and were all bemused by the rare, magnificent monuments and lavish gold, silver and ivory decor and Venetian mirrors among others that were a common presence everywhere both in the Castles and Churches. Vivid traditional paintings, art work and once again a liberal use of gold. Silver and ivory and rich Fabrics are attested by all writers as well as the polished and non slippery blocks of stones that covered the stairs in all the Castles, Churches and Fasiledes Bath. In addition to all the above Fasiledes built 7(seven) stone bridges crossing the Abay river. Fasiledes is also said to have been responsible for the building of other structures, where the oldest of these is EnqulalGemb or Egg Castle so named on account of its egg shaped domed roof.

> To make the history short - I reiterate, that the looting of Fasiledes started in the era of ZemeneMesafint , specially and primarily the looters were those from Tigray known by the Ethiopians as Agame's but also from other areas. Followed by looting of including the Gold roof of the dome of Fasiledes, the unique ornaments, unique gold and silver massive crosses from churches mainly by Agame's; as well as stripping the monuments.

These were followed by the invading satanic English army and their war of dogs from Ireland and India after the great Emperor Tewdros II was sold by the Agame's, who finally committed suicide to save Ethiopia from being occupied and the satanic empire general and army looted, burned the rare and magnificent church built by Emperor Tewodros after looting it completely and finally arrested his wife who experienced an untold suffering at the hands of the barbarian invading army who died long before reaching the shores of the Red Sea, but they took with them the very young prince Alemayehu Tewodros who died at his early age and his remains are still in one of the palaces of the satanic empire of England. Some of the golden crowns, massive gold and Silver Crosses and other artifacts are decorating the Agame churches and King Yohannes 4th (fourth) palace. Then the Sudanese ransacked all the compound reducing most of them to ruins in 1888. Furthermore, the entire compound suffered from a massive bombing by fascist Italy during the Italo-Ethiopian war of 1936 -1941.

Since Tigray was the first to surrender and collaborate with the fascist army offering them eggs, chicken and their women as whores, fascist Italians expanded the small palace of king Yohannes 4th (fourth) built in the 1880's with features resembling FassiledesCastels and fascist Italians modernized it also by planting Japanese style of trimmed plants and flower garden all around the Castle.

Fascist Italians renovated and enlarged the castle for their own use also further decorating it from inside including by the old looted materials where the "Yohannes fourth castels" contrary to the falling apart of both Fasiledes and Lalibela is renovated every now and then in the last 23 years of Agame Junta in power.

> It is important to mention that Fasiledes's Castle of David's Hall's roof was left to crumble in 2002 Under the watch of the minority fascist Agame regime which otherwise was absolutely possible to hider it from collapsing - and now since it is without a roof rain will take its tools and sooner than later the entire structure might crumble.

We Must give credit where credit is due:.KingHailesellassie has done some preservation work but col. Mengistu starting from 1974 has done his utmost to renovate the Monuments more than anyone else before him.

THE REASONS FOR THE LOOMING DANGER FOR THE MONUMENTS OF LALIBELA AND ENOUGH MATERIAL SAMPES MY FREIND BROUGHT FROM THESE MONUMENTS ROOFS AND WALLS AND LAB RESULTS:

The accumulation of Sulfuric acid with a molecular formula of H2SO4 which we can already see in all the roof and wall structure of The Ancient monument of Lalibela. The acid is either yellowish and sometimes dark or darker brown during production to alert people to its hazards of causing destruction. The molecular mass of Sulfuric acid is 98. [ 2+.32+64 = 98]. To make it shorter I jump - In the presence of water Sulfur trioxide (SO3) is converted rapidly to Sulfuric acid; SO3(g)+H2O. Followed by HOSO2. +O2 ---->HO2.SO3

Nitrogen dioxide reacts with OH to form Nitric acid: NO2+OH.-->HNO3

In the presence of H2O, Sulfur trioxide (SO3) is converted rapidly to Sulfuric acid: SO3(g)+H2O(l)--->H2SO4(aq)

The most important gas which leads to acidification is sulfur dioxide. Emission of Nitrogen Oxides which are oxidized to form Nitric acid where the principal cause of acid rain is sulfur & nitrogen compounds. The gases can be carried hundreds and even thousands of kilometers in the atmosphere before they are converted to acid and deposited in structures as is the case with Lalibela churches.

Acid deposition also occurs via dry deposition in the absence of precipitation, which can be responsible for 20 to 60% total acid deposition. This occurs when particles in this case Lalibela monuments stick into the surface of the Churches of Lalibela

The samples from Lalibela analyzed by leading Chemistry experts exceeds dangerously by at least 1.5 times more than the normal Internationally accepted values. A ticking time bomb that can turn these rare, magnificent ancient monuments into a sand dunes.

Then we have "a lesser but destructive" problem of underground water capillary upward movement of water from wet lower area, to drier higher areas where this tide mark is caused by soluble salts particularly nitrates and chlorides contained in the underground water causing unwanted moisture in the monuments. A phenomenon already known by the Greeks and others that follow. In conclusion: Unless ALL these problems are addressed quickly, properly and pedantically which is very cheap and can bring huge amount of income from tourism for the poor people living in and around Lalibela.

If we don't then these ancient monuments, which are reminiscences of Ethiopia's past glory will turn into sand dunes and disappear leading not only to the loss of these ancient monuments but also if we want to rebuild a duplicate new ones it will cost tens of billions of Euros to reconstruct as do many countries and at the end finding out that the tourists will lost their appetite to go and visit a copy thereby loosing tourist income as well. But primarily we must understand that these reminiscence of Ethiopia's ancient glory is at stake. In part TWO I will present our findings of the cheap solutions but that what restores the monuments almost as they use to be with a very cheap cost and with a durable material that will stand there for uncountable millenniums to come.

Markos Lemma MD,Phd