Stone lion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

December 1969 Issue

Stone lion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

When the cat’s away… The symbol of Ethiopia is the Lion of Judah.

During the Italian occupation of the country in 1936-1941, a bronze lion erected in 1922 in honor of Emperor Haile Selassie was stolen and taken to Rome (it was returned in 1964). In 1955 the emperor commissioned Polish artist Maurice Calka to create a new lion; the result is the subject of January’s photo. The stone lion, 10 meters high, stands proudly in front of highrise office buildings in downtown Addis Ababa.

Two readers sent in the correct answer by the deadline, and EVA HOLMES of Portland, Maine, won the drawing. We thank Betty Serow of Tallahassee, Florida, for contributing the photo.