Lion of Judah, Addis Ababa (must see)

The Lion of Judah is best known through its golden statue created for Emperor Haile Selassie I’s coronation in 1930. The sculpture was made by French artist Georges Gardet and represents the emperor’s full title, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. For centuries, Ethiopian emperors used this title to claim a biblical link to the Solomonic dynasty, connecting royal authority with religion and history. Because of this, the lion became a strong symbol of imperial power and national identity.

The statue is made of gilded bronze, giving it a golden surface that reflects light clearly. The lion faces forward in a calm, controlled stance, rather than an aggressive one. It stands on a black granite base with relief portraits of Emperor Menelik II, Emperor Haile Selassie I, Empress Zewditu, and Ras Makonnen, linking the monument to the imperial family and early 20th-century leadership.

The statue has a difficult history. It was taken to Rome during the Italian occupation in 1935–1936 and displayed there for almost 30 years. It was returned in the 1960s, though sources differ on the exact year. After the 1974 revolution, the Derg planned to remove it, but Arbegnoch (war veterans) protected the statue, saying it also symbolized resistance to fascist rule.

Today, visitors usually stop for a short time to view the statue and take photographs. Although the visit is brief, the monument helps explain how one image carried religious, political, and historical meaning across changing periods.