Gorgora

Coordinates: 12°14′N 37°18′E / 12.233°N 37.300°E / 12.233; 37.300
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the genus of moth, see Gorgora (moth).
Gorgora
ጎርጎራ
UTC+3 (EAT
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Gorgora (

Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region. Gorgora has a latitude and longitude of 12°14′N 37°18′E / 12.233°N 37.300°E / 12.233; 37.300
.

Geography

Gorgora is a peninsula on the north shore of lake Tana. It has some 12 kilometers of width in its southern parts and stands on strategic location, an elevated rocky promontory overlooking the lake and next to a series of islands suitable for habitation.[1]

Overview

Gorgora refers to a small peninsula jutting into Lake Tana as well as to a small village hosting a harbor. The peninsula was important in the past as the site of an important Jesuit residence: "Old" Gorgora was located 5  km northeast, inland from Maryam Gimb, which was called [New] Gorgora, and 5  km west of Debre Sina and its churches (usually not considered a town in its own right).[2] Other notable landmarks include the monastery of Mandaba, located at the headlands of Gorgora peninsula. R.E. Cheesman visited Mandaba in 1932 and described the monastery as being enclosed by a high wall and no woman is allowed inside its gate. There are 150 residents, monks, the monastery is governed by an Abbot who has the power of putting refractory monks in chains, and is all powerful in his own monastery. Cheesman was told that if a man fleeing from justice rings the monastery bell and is given sanctuary, he is safe from even the highest person in the land.[3]

Ferries sail from the port to Bahir Dar via Kunzela and Dek Island.

History

Gorgora served as one of the early capitals of Ethiopia during the reigns of Emperor

Fasilides before Fasilides founded Gondar. It was selected as a capital as it started with the letter "gʷa" (Ge'ez: ጐ), as dictated by a prophecy of the time (the same prophecy led to the rise of Gondar). Gorgora is the Ethiopic bastardization of the Greek name "Γρηγόριος" (Gregorios). The city is named after the 4th-century Saint & Church Father Gregory the Illuminator
, who is a prominent figure in Ethiopian Orthodox Theology.

Ruins of the structures the

Pedro Paez, who also succeeded in converting Emperor Susenyos to Catholicism.[4] The town is known for the Debre Sina church (built in 1608), its many monasteries, the palace of the Emperor Susenyos located nearby, and the Portuguese
cathedral that was abandoned after Emperor Fasilides expelled the Jesuits.

Gorgora formed part of the defenses of the

Public Health College in Gondar.[5]

The

water hyacinth plant was rapidly invading Lake Tana around Gorgora in 2018.[6]

Demographics

Based on figures from the

Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Gorgora has an estimated total population of 4783, of whom 2283 are men and 2500 are women.[7]
The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 2,768 of whom 1,201 were men and 1,567 were women.

Notes

  1. ISBN 9783447052382
    .
  2. ^ Andreu Martinez, "Gorgora", in Siegbert Uhlig, ed., Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, vol. 2, Wiesbaden: Harrasowitz, 2005, pp. 853-4.
  3. ^ R.E. Cheesman, "Lake Tana and Its Islands", Geographical Journal, 85 (1935), pp. 499f
  4. ^ David Buxton, Travels in Ethiopia, second edition (London: Benn, 1957), p. 115
  5. ^ "Local History in Ethiopia"[permanent dead link] The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 19 March 2008)
  6. ^ Kibret, Solomon; Worqlul, Abeyou (31 October 2018). "Why Ethiopia is unable to control water hyacinth from Lake Tana and what to do about it". Satenaw News. Addis Abeba. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  7. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics Archived 2006-11-23 at the Wayback Machine, Table B.4

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gorgora.
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