Lion of Judah Monument

Addis Ababa


Long the symbol of Ethiopia’s monarchy, the Lion of Judah is ubiquitous throughout the country – and although images of the almighty animal abound in Addis Ababa, it’s the storied history of the Lion of Judah Monument that makes this statue significant.

After being erected on the eve of Haile Selassie’s coronation in 1930, it was looted by Italians in 1935 and placed in Rome next to the massive Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. In 1938, during anniversary celebrations of the proclamation of the Italian Empire, Zerai Deress, a young Eritrean, spotted the statue and defiantly interrupted proceedings to kneel and pray before it. After police verbally and physically attempted to stop his prayers, he rose and attacked the armed Italians with his sword while screaming ‘the Lion of Judah is avenged!’ He seriously injured several officers (some reports say he killed five) before he was shot. Although he died seven years later in an Italian prison, his legend lives on in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The Lion of Judah Monument was eventually returned to Addis Ababa in the 1960s.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Addis Ababa attractions

2. Presidential Palace

0.63 MILES

This is where the Ethiopian president lives. Don't even think of taking a photo.

3. Derg Monument

0.65 MILES

The towering Derg Monument is one of the more poignant reminders of the country’s painful communist rule. Topped by a massive red star and emblazoned with…

4. 'Red Terror' Martyrs Memorial Museum

0.67 MILES

‘As if I bore them all in one night, they slew them in a single night.’ These were the words spoken by the mother of four teenage children all killed on…

5. Addis Ababa Museum

0.68 MILES

Despite only being founded on Addis' centenary in 1986, the Addis Ababa Museum is the city’s scruffiest museum. That said, perusing candid portraits of…

7. Africa Hall

0.82 MILES

Built in 1961 by Emperor Haile Selassie, Africa Hall (near Meskal Sq) is the seat of the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Italian-designed…

8. Bete Maryam Mausoleum

1.28 MILES

The Bete Maryam Mausoleum is located just south of Menelik’s palace and offers what could be an enchantingly eerie experience for travellers (were it not…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "ethiopia/addis-ababa/attractions/lion-of-judah-monument/a/poi-sig/1423262/355289",
      "destination": "Addis-Ababa",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Ethiopia",
      "city": "Addis-Ababa",
      "position": "superzone"
    }