Religious Photographs and Iconography from Aksum and Ethiopia

Obelisk Ancient Aksum
Obelisk from ancient Aksum
Church Carved out of Rock
Church carved out of rock, Lalibella, Ethiopia
Roof of Rock Church
Roof of rock church, Lalibella, Ethiopia
Rock Church
Rock church, Lalibella, Ethiopia
Holy Treasury of the Cathedral in Aksum
Holy Treasury of the Cathedral in Aksum
Trinity Ethiopian Church
Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Priest of Holy Treasury
Priest of Holy Treasury of the Cathedral of Aksum
Priest at Lalibella Rock Church
Priest at Lalibella Rock Church
Ethiopian Orthodox Priests
Ethiopian Orthodox priests at Festival of Timket

Ethiopian Religious Iconography

Ethiopia has a rich tradition of Christian religious art. The following paintings are representations by Adamu Tesfaw, a contemporary Ethiopian artist, of traditional Ethiopian Christian themes. These paintings are part of an Ethiopian art collection held by the Michigan State University Museum.

What stories do the paintings tell? How are the paintings similar to and different from religious paintings that you are familiar with?

Gebre Manfus Qedus
Gebre Manfus Qedus. Painting by Ethiopian artist Adamu Tesfaw Michigan State University Museum Photo by Kim Kauffman
Saint Mercurius slaying Julianius
Saint Mercurius Slaying Julianius. Painting by Ethiopian artist Adamu Tesfaw Michigan State University Museum Photo by Kim Kauffman
Saint Yared with the Holy Family
Saint Yared with the Holy Family. Painting by Ethiopian artist Adamu Tesfaw Michigan State University Museum Photo by Kim Kauffman
Saint George Slaying the Dragon
Saint George Slaying the Dragon. Painting by Ethiopian artist Adamu Tesfaw Michigan State University Museum Photo by Kim Kauffman