Yeha Temple

Yeha Temple is a beautiful Ethiopia's historical stone tower and discovered near the village of Yeha in the Mehakelegnaw Zone of northern Tigray, is built in the Sabean style, which is typical throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The temple of the moon, which towers above the little hamlet that many claims to be the country's pre-Aksumite capital, was erected in honor of the deity Almougah during the reign of D'mt circa 700 BC. Stone carved inscriptions discovered across the site tell epic stories of Almougah's splendor and their ability to shut off the harsh merciless sun.

Despite its now deteriorated exterior, people who pass through the five-meter tall gateway into a huge hall with a deep pool in the center, which was used for ceremonial and sacrificial reasons, are filled with awe. All of the limestone used in its construction came from a local quarry about 90 miles away, and it was erected without the use of cement or mortar, which adds to the mystery of its durability.

As Christianity expanded throughout the country, the location was taken by early believers and developed into the monastery St Abuna Aftse, which still stands today.

Several archaeological excavations have taken place in the region, many of which are currently continuing, revealing millennia of history. Yeha temple and her long glorious history are slowly being revealed beneath the changing sands that surround the monument as new levels are excavated.

Address: Yeha, Tigray