Image: Imperial Sarcophagus, Holy Trinity Cathedral (3434552155)
Description: Emperor Haile Selassie I, who abdicated his throne on September 12, 1974, and was subsequently imprisoned, was reported to have died on August 27, 1975. The official media at the time claimed the Emperor died from complications after an operation. It is widely believed, however, that Emperor Haile Selassie I was murdered. The Derg regime, which overthrew the Emperor and declared an end to the Solomonic Dynasty, fell in 1991. The Emperor's remains were found in 1992. Some believe the Emperor had been buried under the floor of Mengistu Haile Mariam's office. In November, 2000, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church gave Emperor Haile Selassie I an imperial funeral in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. The Emperor's remains and those of his Empress now rest side-by-side in Axumite-style sarcophagi bathed in the beautiful colored light of stained-glass windows. Interestingly, the imperial sarcophagi, the lids of which resemble the tops of classical Axumite obelisks, are the only items I recall seeing in the Holy Trinity Cathedral that reflect past Ethiopian artistic traditions.
Title: Imperial Sarcophagus, Holy Trinity Cathedral (3434552155)
Credit: Imperial Sarcophagus, Holy Trinity Cathedral Uploaded by Elitre
Author: A. Davey from Where I Live Now: Pacific Northwest
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes
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