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Lake
Tana Monasteries
Covering more than 3600 square km, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest
lake. Known to the ancient Greeks as Pseboe, and to the ancient Egyptians
as Choloe Palus, its sometimes stormy water are traversed by papyrus reed
boats called Tankwas, which differ little from those depicted on the tombs
of Pharaohs.
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The 37 islands of lake Tana shelter 20 monasteries - surviving remnants of an old contemplative tradition. Because of their isolation they were used to store art treasures and religious relics from all parts of the country.
Tradition says the Ark of Covenant was kept on one of these islands when Axum was endangered and that the remains of Fasilides are to be found at Dega Estifanos.
Islands of Lake Tana are the place to find the Gonderean style in some of the paintings found in remarkable monasteries and churches.
Kebran
Gabriel - originally established in the 14th century, was later
renovated and rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Iyassu I (1682-1706).
Narga Sellassie built in the 18th century by Emperess Mintewab, is also
Gonderean in character.
Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zagwe peninsula is a 14th century building, and its most powerful murals, notably around the holy of holies, were painted in Gonderean times.
On
the other hand, the centerpiece of Daga Estifanos is
a Madonna painted during the reign of Zara Yacob (1434-1468). Although
medieval by date, this work has the flowing lines, realism, beauty and
tension of much later styles.
Some places on Lake Tana are not accessible to women, and even animals
living there are male.
The Islands are hospitable for the vast number of adorable birds. Ethiopia, with its 814 kinds of birds, of which 34 are endemic, is considered as real paradise for ornithologists.
