|
after yesterdays visit to gondar's castles i did some more tourist work today. i went to see the debre birhan selassie church; one of ethiopia's highlights, as i learned.
it was built in the 1690s and owns its reputation to the painted walls which depict the live of jesus (surprise) on one side and various saints on the other. the famous ceiling is decorated with eighty angles that supposedly protect the world from evil - while a painting on one of the doors shows mohammed being led away by the devil...
not much of a church-goer or religious person myself, i had to admit though, that the paintwork was remarkable. but i much preferred the other highlight i came upon today: an immense swimming pool, complete with its own little castle. "what parties could one celebrate here!" i thought with excitement.
my worldly fantasies and sympathies with the builder were somehow moderated, however, when i learned that the pool was built for religious ceremonies. one of gondar's kings built it to re-baptize his citizen to the orthodox faith after his father had forcefully converted them to catholicism.