This newly updated and revised second edition of "A Story in
Stones" explores the relationship between Portugal and Ethiopia
during the XVI and XVII centuries from the unique perspective of
stonework. Through research and many years of working in the field,
J.J. Hespeler-Boultbee examines the first early Renaissance links
between the principal European superpower of the day and the
ancient Christian empire of Ethiopia's Highlands - using
contemporary architectural vestige as a catalyst for his
findings.
What began as Portugal's mission to discover an unknown world
soon became a quest to find Prester John, the legendary Christian
priest/king presumed to be living on the far side of Islam. In an
attempt to form a Christian military alliance, the search was both
concluded and, in a manner, initiated by explorer Pero da Covilha
in 1493 with his overland journey to the Highland court of Emperor
Eskendar. This was instrumental in setting up a string of ties
between the two nations - diplomatic, military, religious, cultural
and (most long-lasting of all) architectural - almost three decades
before Portugal's diplomatic mission of 1520.
The fascinating story contained in the stones can yet be seen in
the Portuguese and "Gondarine" ruins that dot the Gojjam and Lake
Tana regions; they continue to influence today's Highland
architectural design. Hespeler-Boultbee examines over thirty
different sites, many of which are remote and rarely visited. Fully
illustrated with colour photos and drawings.
About the Author:
J.J. Hespeler-Boultbee is an Art & Architectural Historian and
Associate of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa
University. He lived for twenty-five years in Portugal, during that
time making several forays into the Ethiopian Highlands on behalf
of the Department of History and CIDEHUS (Centro de Investigacao e
Desenvolvimento em Ciencias Humanas e Sociais), the research and
development institute at the University of Evora. For the two year
period, 2007-2009, he lived in and conducted research from Bahir
Dar on Lake Tana, Ethiopia, during which time he found his
historical conclusions were at considerable variance with
colleagues in the History Department at Bahir Dar University -
disagreements which have prompted the revisions leading to this
current updated and revised edition of "A Story in Stones."
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