Tchika-Beret or Chiqa Beret is the ruins of an ancient Christian settlement dating back to the Aksumite period lying just 10 km south east of Kombolcha, on the outskirts of Ancharo. The area most notably possesses the Geta Lion Statue, a stone sculpture of a lion's head on the top of a hill that dates back to the early 4th century.[1][2]

Tchika Beret
Tchika Beret is located in Ethiopia
Tchika Beret
Location within Ethiopia
Tchika Beret is located in Horn of Africa
Tchika Beret
Location within the Horn of Africa
Tchika Beret is located in Africa
Tchika Beret
Location within Africa
LocationEthiopia
RegionAmhara Region
Coordinates11°03′00″N 39°47′00″E / 11.05°N 39.783333°E / 11.05; 39.783333
TypeSettlement
Part ofKingdom of Aksum
History
Founded4th century AD

The area was excavated by French archeologist Francis Anfray in 1964, who described it as "some remains of Christian settlements around the vicinity of Kombolcha." He also notes that on the stone's base of the lion sculpture was an engraving of a Christian cross, on both sides of the cross were two heavily eroded pre-Christian monograms. Similar monograms were found in the coinage of King Wazeba of Axum, which suggests that the statue was constructed during his reign in the early 4th century AD.[3]

References

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  1. ^ S. C. Munro-Hay (1991) Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity. Edinburgh: University Press. p. 48. ISBN 0748601066
  2. ^ Tribe, Tania C. (2023). Archaeology of Christianity in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.013.406.
  3. ^ Anfrey, Francis (January 2011). "Le lion de Kombolcha et le léopard d'Aksum : des félins rupestres paléochrétiens ?". Annales d Ethiopie. 26: 274.