Tiya, Ethiopia’s enigmatic stelae

The Steles of Tiya is a cemetery where about 46 large stones, bear carvings of swords and other signs and symbols. Archaeologists from France and Ethiopia have discovered stone artifacts as well as human skeletons who were likely between the ages of 18 and 30 when they died. The stelae appear to mark mass graves in honor of local warriors between the 10 th and 15 th centuries AD. Except for descriptions of their physical appearance, very little is known about the Tiya stelae.
It is found near the small town of Tiya in the Soddo Region of Gurage Zone. Within the zone, there are over 100 stelae distributed among nine different megalithic pillar sites, 46 of which are located at Tiya. This site contains large stelae of three types – anthropomorphic, phallic, and non-anthropomorphic/non-phallic. Anthropomorphic stelae are those which are given a human form. Phallic stelae are tall, thin shafts and non-phallic stelae are flat monuments that take on neither an anthropomorphic nor phallic form, yet still take on the same basic form as the other megaliths. Tiya is one of the sites of Ethiopia which was recorded in 1978 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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From $1800 $1600
9 Days Journey in Ethiopian Northern Highlands to participate on the Ethiopian Christmas Festival and explore other popular sites of the Northern Historic Route. You will be at Lalibela on January 7 to Participate in the Christmas ceremony into the early AM hours in and listen to the priests chant at sunrise as you join the locals in this sacred festival. The Tour also gives the travelers an opportunity to explore other fascinating sites in the Northern Ethiopia Historic Route including the Simen Mountains National Park, Blue Nile Falls, Castles of Gondar, Remarkable Rock churches of Lalibela, Ancient Monasteries on Lake Tana. You will have a very special trip to one of the most fascinating countries in Arica. Come prepared to be amazed!
9 Days
6+
SPECIAL OFFER
From $150
This is a day trip from Addis Ababa which takes around 8 hours (180kms two way). You will be picked up by your Tour Guide and Driver from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport or Hotel in Addis Ababa and then the trip will start at 8 am. This day trip gives you the opportunity to visit three important historical sites. Drive south of Addis Ababa through the beautiful countryside landscape and cross the Awash River - one of the biggest rivers in Ethiopia. First, you will stop at Adadi Mariam Rock church which is located 65kms from the capital. Adadi Mariam is carved out of a single piece of rock in the 13th Century AD by the famous King Lalibela. Then proceed towards Tiya where you will see 40 huge stone grave markers erected in memory of local heroes between the 12th to the 14th Century AD. Next, you will explore the Melka Kunture Prehistoric Site to visit an open-air excavation site and learn the archaeological findings from the area which covers more than a million years. Finally, you will drive back to Addis Ababa. In the evening there will be a farewell dinner in Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant with cultural dances of different Ethnic Groups. Finally, you will be transferred to Airport, if your departure is this evening, or Hotel.
Day Trip
1+
Area:
120 km²
Elevation:
2,131 m
Population:
61 429 (2022)
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