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Eleven extraordinary rock-hewn churches carved according to the Divine instructions given to the legendary King Lalibela in the twelfth century. Prince Lalibela, in his dream, received instructions to build a replica of Jerusalem with these unique churches in the capital Roha. The town's river was re-named the Jordan, and later the town was named for King Lalibela. . It is said that angels worked at night to help complete the work. Many travelers and travel writers call it the eighth wonder of the world. The churches are included in UNESCO's list of world heritage. Among them, Beta Ammanuel is approached through a tunnel within a deep and narrow courtyard. The exterior of the church, much praised by art-historians, is extremely elaborate. The walls are carved in courses, alternately recessed and projecting - mimicking the timber and plastered-stone layers of traditional Ethiopian architecture. Four are completely free-standing, attached only to the surrounding rock by their bases. These are Beta Medhane Alem, the House of the Savior of the World; Beta Ghenetta Mariam, the House of Mary; Beta Ammanuel, the House of Emanuel; and Beta Ghiorghis, the House of St George. The remaining churches are Beta Dengel, House of the Virgins; Beta Selassie, House of the Trinity; Beta Qedus Mercurios, House of St Mercurios; and Beta Qedus Gabriel-Rufael, House of St Gabriel and St Raphael. In addition, several other arresting rock-hewn features are not churches - among them the so-called Tomb of Adam, a huge rectangular block of stone, hollowed out internally, which stands in a deep trench in front of the western face of Beta Golgotha.
Some of them are featured here.
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