Tiya World Heritage Site
Tiya World Heritage Site
Tiya World Heritage Site
3.5
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An important archaeological site contains ancient rock stelae with enigmatic carvings.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
40 reviews
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1
VGriet
Leuven, Belgium336 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
We like to learn about history. The area is small but filled with over 40 stelea and they ate still excavating. We really wanted to support this work of the community (who maintains it) with the small entrance fee. So we'll worth a little stop.
Written March 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kiru994
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia48 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
I went there after visiting the Melka Kunture archaeological site and Adadi Mariam. It's a common thing to visit those three places on a day trip. The Tiya Stelae is registered on the UNESCO heritage list. It's about 100 KMs from the capital.
I didn't need a guide during the visit. The place is a graveyard. Most of the stones have arrows and swords engraved on them. I noticed some recent graves in the compound too.
Since I was a local I didn't pay an entrance fee.
I didn't need a guide during the visit. The place is a graveyard. Most of the stones have arrows and swords engraved on them. I noticed some recent graves in the compound too.
Since I was a local I didn't pay an entrance fee.
Written December 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Muluken G
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia295 contributions
Jul 2018 • Business
The Steles of Tiya is a cemetery with about 40 carved tall stone grave markers. These beautifully carved grave stones are 82 kms away from Addis Ababa and the site is the nearest UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE of Ethiopia to Addis Ababa. The stones are believed to be erected in memory of local warriors as they depict carvings of swords and thought to date back from the 12th to 14th Century AD.
Entrance to visit is 130 Birr per person. You may be asked to take a local guide for 50 Birr for a small group of less than 4 people.
If you are visiting the Steles of Tiya, stopping at the rock carved churche of Adadi Mariam along the way makes your visit more interesting.
Entrance to visit is 130 Birr per person. You may be asked to take a local guide for 50 Birr for a small group of less than 4 people.
If you are visiting the Steles of Tiya, stopping at the rock carved churche of Adadi Mariam along the way makes your visit more interesting.
Written July 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smackinlay
Bordeaux, France687 contributions
Oct 2012 • Solo
An amazing and personal look back into medieval Ethiopia. The site itself is overgrown but in a way gives it an authentic feel. These gravestones mark important people who lived in the area around 1300 - 1500's AD. One fascinating and almost creepy aspect was the daggers carved on the warriors' headstones. Each dagger represented an enemy they had killed!
Written October 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eindelik
Cape Town Central, South Africa167 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Tiya offers a collection of gravestones of long-dead notables - most of them, apparently, young men.
The standing stones - or stelae - marking the graves are richly and curiously decorated, indicating how many people the warrior has killed, and his marital status. There are also a tiny handful of stones commemorating notable women.
This is a wonderful glimpse back into Ethiopia's history, of a rich and sophisticated - and warlike! - culture
The standing stones - or stelae - marking the graves are richly and curiously decorated, indicating how many people the warrior has killed, and his marital status. There are also a tiny handful of stones commemorating notable women.
This is a wonderful glimpse back into Ethiopia's history, of a rich and sophisticated - and warlike! - culture
Written June 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Turknoys
Doha, Qatar402 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
There are nine world heritage site in Ethiopia. Not sure if this one is worth visiting alone for a day trip but this one is closest to Addis Ababa. We visited this site and enjoyed with kids. Reflectively, the other sites which include domestic flights maybe better.
The site includes megaliths with the guide's interpretation of the engraved pictures in the tombstones. The landscape is picturesque and amazing for kids.
Would we be recommending this? Really depends on one's purpose. Our family is worldschooling, hence it is a good afternoon spent visiting the site.
The site includes megaliths with the guide's interpretation of the engraved pictures in the tombstones. The landscape is picturesque and amazing for kids.
Would we be recommending this? Really depends on one's purpose. Our family is worldschooling, hence it is a good afternoon spent visiting the site.
Written December 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawit Aragaw
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia93 contributions
Apr 2015 • Business
You can visit this place like an excursion from Addis, about 86 km asphalt road. According some Anthropologists, it was dated to a time period between the 11th and 13th centuries CE. Later dating places the stelae's construction sometime between the 10th and 15th centuries CE. However, the building of megaliths in Ethiopia is a very ancient tradition, with many such monuments predating the Common Era.
Tiya is one of nine megalithic pillar sites in the Gurage Zone. As of 1997, 118 stelae were reported in the area. Along with the stelae in the Hadiya Zone, the structures are identified by local residents as Yegragn Dingay or "Gran's stone", in reference to Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmad "Gurey" or "Gran"), ruler of the Adal Sultanate.
The Gurage stelae are of three types: anthropomorphic stelae with human figures, phallic stelae, and stelae of neither anthropomorphic nor phallic type. Most of these stelae, including the 46 ones at Tiya, which are the largest of the bunch, also have distinctive, elaborate decorations Among these designs are swords, plant-like symbols, and a standing human figure with arms akimbo. The plant and sword emblems can be found on the same stelae. The sword design is reportedly of local "Galla" type, as made by the Oromo. The shape of its blade is likewise the same as that of a traditional Somali dagger. In addition, the Tiya rock slabs also often feature a T-shaped symbol.
The stelae at Tiya and other areas in central Ethiopia are similar to those on the route between Djibouti City and Loyada in Djibouti. In the latter area, there are a number of anthropomorphic and phallic stelae, which are associated with graves of rectangular shape flanked by vertical slabs. The Djibouti-Loyada stelae are of uncertain age, and some of them are adorned with an analogous T-shaped emblem.
No where humans are buried phallic style, this is why it registered by UNESCO World Heritage Sites!!
I recommended to visit this cultural-archaeological sites of Ethiopia.
Tiya is one of nine megalithic pillar sites in the Gurage Zone. As of 1997, 118 stelae were reported in the area. Along with the stelae in the Hadiya Zone, the structures are identified by local residents as Yegragn Dingay or "Gran's stone", in reference to Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmad "Gurey" or "Gran"), ruler of the Adal Sultanate.
The Gurage stelae are of three types: anthropomorphic stelae with human figures, phallic stelae, and stelae of neither anthropomorphic nor phallic type. Most of these stelae, including the 46 ones at Tiya, which are the largest of the bunch, also have distinctive, elaborate decorations Among these designs are swords, plant-like symbols, and a standing human figure with arms akimbo. The plant and sword emblems can be found on the same stelae. The sword design is reportedly of local "Galla" type, as made by the Oromo. The shape of its blade is likewise the same as that of a traditional Somali dagger. In addition, the Tiya rock slabs also often feature a T-shaped symbol.
The stelae at Tiya and other areas in central Ethiopia are similar to those on the route between Djibouti City and Loyada in Djibouti. In the latter area, there are a number of anthropomorphic and phallic stelae, which are associated with graves of rectangular shape flanked by vertical slabs. The Djibouti-Loyada stelae are of uncertain age, and some of them are adorned with an analogous T-shaped emblem.
No where humans are buried phallic style, this is why it registered by UNESCO World Heritage Sites!!
I recommended to visit this cultural-archaeological sites of Ethiopia.
Written October 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dan w
United Kingdom173 contributions
Sep 2015 • Friends
good guide and an insight into ethiopia's middle ages. expanding christendom, plenty of fighting (queens fought alongside their kings). worth a stop if nearby but not too long a journey.
Written September 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shelVVV
45 contributions
Sep 2014 • Friends
On UNESCO's heritage list. The tombstones are indeed beautifully carved, but you do need a guide to take you there, since there are no explanatory signs...
Written October 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Borana N
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia68 contributions
Nov 2011 • Family
Distance:- exactly 86 kms from Addis Abeba. Take a day trip from Addis or stopover on your way to Langano or Butajira
The locals could not associate themselves with this graves. Yet, you will find more of such things in 50 km radius. The locals will tell you it belonged to Gragn Ahmed's soldiers, as all unknown or strange things in this country are always associated with him. The drum figure stone doesn't look typical ethiopian drum, it rather looks like west african drum. If the locals are not familiar with such civilization could it be that other ethnic group has lived on this area in ancient time and probably moved to other part of africa or we talking about a vanished folk group? Institute of Ethiopian Studies has more things to do on this area. Tootofella arround Dila being the similar attraction.
The locals could not associate themselves with this graves. Yet, you will find more of such things in 50 km radius. The locals will tell you it belonged to Gragn Ahmed's soldiers, as all unknown or strange things in this country are always associated with him. The drum figure stone doesn't look typical ethiopian drum, it rather looks like west african drum. If the locals are not familiar with such civilization could it be that other ethnic group has lived on this area in ancient time and probably moved to other part of africa or we talking about a vanished folk group? Institute of Ethiopian Studies has more things to do on this area. Tootofella arround Dila being the similar attraction.
Written October 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
can i get the contact of local guide for Tiya site
Written November 9, 2018
Hi Tigist, if you are looking for a local guide only for Tiya Site, there are official guides at the site for a fee of 50 Ethiopian Birr for a small group of less than 4 people.
Written November 9, 2018
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