The Lion of Judah Monument is one of the noteworthy tourist attractions in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. Located in close proximity to the Addis Ababa train station, on the city's widest avenue, Churchill Road, this statue has fascinated tourists and travelers from the time the monument was set up. The entire statue is golden in color and is mounted on a black granite pedestal. The pedestal contains relief portraits of several Ethiopian rulers and emperors. Some of the famous personalities whose portraits feature on the black granite are Empress Zewditu, Menelik II, Ras Makonnen and Haile Selassie I.
The Lion of Judah Monument in Addis Ababa has a long historical background. The monument was built in the year 1930, prior to the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie. However, the statue was looted and plundered by Italians in 1935 and carried away to the Italian capital, Rome. There the statue was set up beside another famous monument namely Vittorio Emanuelle Monument. During a function that marked the 4th anniversary celebrations of the Italian empire, parades took place, where eminent personalities like Adolf Hitler, Musollini and King Victor Emanuelle III were present.
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The parade had participation from Italy's African Empire. There was a young Ethiopian, Zerai Deres, who was there in the parade. While marching past the guests with the ceremonial sword to salute the King, the Fuhrer, and el Duce, he suddenly saw The Lion of Judah Monument of Addis Ababa. The statue was a symbol of ancient monarchy in the Ethiopian capital city and was exhibited as war booty in Rome. This infuriated the young man and he at once drew his sword and slaughtered the first Italian soldier that came on his way. After that he killed many more Italian soldiers.
Zerai Deres is still hailed in Addis Ababa as a brave patriot. However, he could not bring back the statue immediately back to Ethiopia. It was finally brought back to the Ethiopian capital in the 1960s. It was reset in the square and the Emperor himself went there to pay homage to Zerai Deres. However in 1974, it was decided that the statue had to be brought down, as it was a symbol of monarchy. However, the decision was changed and the statue stands with grandeur and elegance in the square as a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism.
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