Ethiopia

Many has been said about the Ethiopian artworks and artists. But little has about the background of the country. Here is a brief summary of its history and culture.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world and the second most populous nation is Africa. IT has yielded some of the oldest traces of humanity, making it an important area in the process of human evolution. The Ge'ez name ʾĪtyōṗṗyā, and its English cognate Ethiopia, is thought by some to be derived from the Greek word Αἰθιοπία Aithiopia, from Αἰθίοψ Aithiops ‘an Ethiopian’, which means "of burnt (αιθ-) visage (ὄψ)". However, this etymology is disputed, since the Book of Aksum, a Ge'ez chronicle first composed in the 15th century, states that the name is derived from "Ityopp'is", a son (unmentioned in the Bible) of Cush, son of Ham who according to legend founded the city of Axum. It is not certain how old the name Ethiopia is, but its earliest attested use in the region was as a Christianized name for the Kingdom of Aksum in the 4th century, in stone inscriptions of King Ezana.In English, Ethiopia was also historically known as Abyssinia, derived from the Arabic form of the Ethiosemitic name "ḤBŚT," modern Habesha.

The territory of Ethiopia is one of the oldest centers of human habitations. Some believe that Ethiopia is the land of genesis. Landlocked in the horn of Africa, Ethiopia covers a land twice the size of France, Kenya or Texas & four and half times the size of Great Britain and Italy. It shares frontiers with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and The Sudan to the west and northwest.

Ethiopian’s history and culture are rich, unique and diverse, and is the most ancient empire in the world, which goes back thousands of years, came to an end on the 12th of September 1974. The country's rich history is woven with legends of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba; the Ark of the Covenant that is said to rest in Axum ; the great Axumite kingdom and the birth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; and the story of King Lalibela.

With over 80 different peoples, the cultures of its communities are prominent in Ethiopia's lifestyle. With traditions going back to the days of Axum, and a strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in their daily lives. The greatest festival is Timket (Epiphany), where tourists are welcome to celebrate with the locals. But other festivals such as Enkutatash (the Ethiopian New Year, in September after the rains), Maskal, Gena (Christmas), Id and Easter are all glorious celebrations. In every region you will discover local festivals and ceremonies where you will be welcomed as an honored guest. Remember, when checking any dates, that Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, having thirteen months. The traditional calendar remains almost eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar of the West.

Source: Wikipedia