Bet Mariam - Rock-Hewn Church (Lalibela)

3D Model

Bet Mariam, is one of 13 churches, which were spatially documented by the Zamani Project. The documentation took place between 2005 and 2009 during 4 field campaigns. Over 1200 terrestrial laser-scans were captured.

Lalibela, one of Ethiopias most holiest cities, is home to a collection of monolithic rock-hewn churches. The churches were built as a representation of Jerusalem in the 1100’s.

The churches are carved from soft volcanic rock, some cut into the face of a cliff, while others are isolated structures in deeply carved pits with long access passages or trenches.

The earliest carved monuments may not have been churches, but in the 10th and 11th centuries AD sophisticated churches of diverse styles were created, with architectural features that scholars believe originated in ancient Aksum, which flourished up to 800 years previously.