Monuments

The Monument of the Martyrs

The Monument of the Martyrs An attempt on the life of Viceroy Graziani by two Ethiopians in February 1937 provoked the Italians to unleash a three-day reign of terror, in the course of which thousands of innocent.

Ethiopian citizens were killed in cold blood and many of their houses burnt down. The monument was erected and inaugurated on 19 February 1942 in their memory to tell the world and remind Ethiopians of their history.

The horror which befell the citizens of Addis Ababa is depicted in bas-relief on 28 meters of the monument which was designed by two Yugoslav architects. The massacre was originally narrated by bronze lettering carved on open-book-like stones on four directions around the obelisk.
Unfortunately, these letters have now disappeared.

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The Statue of the Lion of Judah (1)

The Lion of Judah was erected in the square of the Addis Ababa railway station, portraying the devotion of Emperor Menelik to link Ethiopia with the outside world by means of the railway line (with the help of his Swiss adviser, then foreign minister, Engineer Alfred Ilg). The bronze statue can be seen immediately in front of the railway station, which was built by the French and inaugurated in 1929.

On the Lion of Judah statue are carved in relief the effigies or faces of four high-ranking personalities: Emperor Menelik II in his coronation robes and crown, surrounded by patterns of
maize and coffee plants (north), Queen Zewditu in circular relief and with a golden crown on her head (south), Ras Makonnen with golden crown in a patterned relief, and Negus Teferi in his robe and crown prince hood with patterned decoration.

Similarly to the Equestrian Statue of Emperor Menelik II, the Statue of the Lion of Judah was pulled down in the 1936 fascist Italian invasion and taken to Rome where it stayed for 30 years. It was returned after lengthy negotiations and was re-erected on the original site on the same month and day it was first inaugurated.
The Lion of Judah itself faces to the south with opened mouth, raised left foreleg and carries the Ethiopian flag on a crossbar resting on its shoulder.

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Monuments

The major historical events, which mainly started in Addis but also took place in other parts of Ethiopia, were often commemorated in the form of statues or monuments erected on major squares of the capital. These symbolize both the events and personalities. Most of them are related to external invasions, particularly that of the fascist Italian forces.

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Freedom Monument

This monument is located on the intersection of Adwa, Queen Elizabeth and Development Through Cooperation Avenues at Arat Kilo, and commemorates the victory of the Ethiopians over the Italians in 1941, as well as those gallant Ethiopians who perished resisting the invading fascist forces during the 1928-1933 war. The official name of the square where the monument located is Miazia 27, i.e. the day of the liberation of the country and the arrival of the Emperor together with his patriotic troops in Addis Ababa.
Emperor Haile Selassie inaugurated the Freedom Monument in 1944. The 15-meter monument symbolizing the obelisks of Axum is supported by pillars and has six entrances. The history of the five-year struggle is narrated by writings carved on stone tablets around the monument. On the western entrance is the discourse of Emperor Haile Selassie at the time of his arrival and the day of liberation in 1941. On the remaining three entrances to the monument are written on the stones the following:

Northwest: this commemorates the patriots of the five-year struggle and shows a woman in bas-relief holding a sword. On the stone is written the contribution of those who fought the enemy secretly at home submitting information to the patriots.
Northeast: this side invokes the memory of the patriots who perished in the five-years war and is again depicted by a woman with a sword in her hands, while on the stone is narrated the role they played.
Southeast: depicts Emperor Haile Selassie holding the Ethiopian flag in his hands and the relief of the Lion of Judah under him, while the stone writings at that part narrate the great political and diplomatic role played by the Emperor to liberate the country during his exile.
Southwest: this part is left for the memory of those Ethiopians who emigrated from their country and fought wherever they were against the fascist Italians’ occupation. Here also is depicted a woman holding a spear in her left hand and shield in the other, and on her head a wreath of anguish, while on the stone under her is described the life of those emigrant Ethiopians who suffered in alien countries.
The top of the monument reveals the Lion of Judah holding the Ethiopian flag in its foreleg and facing north. On the western side is a clock with its short hand indicating one o’clock: the time of arrival of the patriots in Addis Ababa.

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The Equestrian Statue of Emperor Menelik II

This monument is erected on the square of Emperor Menelik near St. George Church and is a standing testimony of the famous Battle of Adwa in 1896, witnessing Africa’s triumph over European colonialism.

The statue of Emperor Menelik is one of the monuments erected many years after the foundation of Addis Ababa. A German architect, Hartel Spengler, cast it in bronze on the orders of Queen Zewditu, the daughter of Emperor Menelik II, in memory of her father. The statue symbolizes the anti-colonial struggle of Emperor Menelik who waged the Battle of Adwa, the climatic battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War.

The statue portrays Emperor Menelik in his coronation robes riding gloriously on Abba Dagnew, his horse which is depicted with both forelegs raised, looking to the north where the victorious Battle of Adwa took place. Sadly, before the statue could be erected, Queen Zewditu died in 1930. Thus, the then crown prince (later Emperor Haile Selassie) attended the inauguration ceremony on the eve of his coronation day in the same year. In the 1936 fascist invasion, Benito Mussolini gave his personal order that this statue should be pulled down and hidden somewhere so that the humiliating defeat of the Italians at Menelik’s hand in the Battle of Adwa could be forgotten. However, in 1941 when the invaders were ousted by the patriots and allied forces, the statue was restored to its original place.

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The Statue of the Lion of Judah (2)

This black stone carved monument is erected near the National Theater on the western side at Unity Square and commemorates the Silver Jubilee of Emperor Haile Selassie, celebrated in 1955.

The monument is the work of a French sculptor, Morris Calka, the winner of Grand Prix of Rome.Henry Shomet, the Architect of the Addis Ababa City Hall, selected him for this task.

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Historical Buildings

Even though it is little more than 120 years since its foundation, Addis Ababa has some fine historical heritage, especially in old houses. The number of historical buildings in the capital city are many.

These structures, which were built during the foundation of Addis Ababa, reflect the level of civilization (artistically and technologically) of the period. Some were residences of famous personalities that had a major role in Ethiopian history. Buildings have been selected to be preserved as part of the city’s heritage if they meet certain criteria, such as historical and cultural significance.

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Statues of His Holiness Abune Petros

The first statue was erected in 1941 and inaugurated by Emperor Haile Selassie in memory of Abune Petros, the archbishop of the Ethiopian orthodox church who supported the national patriots against the fascist Italian invaders. The fascist leaders tried to persuade him to preach to the people of Ethiopia to accept their leadership. Instead, he courageously faced the firing squad in defiance and inspired both the patriots and the whole population not to surrender to the Italians by excommunicating not only the faithful but also the land itself.

He was shot because of his resistance; thus the monument describing the action is seen within the street and square under his name just below the City Hall to the west. The original statue with full bishopric robe, a cross and a Bible in his hands, was replaced by the present one, which indicates the action of his murder with guns in chained hands. The first statue
is today found in the premises of St. George Cathedral in front of the bell tower where there is a small museum.

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