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Addis Ababa (the name means 'new flower') is of fairly recent origin - Menelik II founded the city in 1887 but is an important administrative centre not only for Ethiopia but also for the whole of Africa. Situated in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains and standing 2,400 metres above sea level it is the third highest capital in the world. The city has a population of about four million.

Set within Haile Selassie’s former palace and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of Addis Ababa University’s main campus is the enthralling Ethnological Museum.Some rooms on first floor show the preserved bedroom, bathroom and exorbitant changing room of Emperor Haile Selassie, complete with a bullet hole in his mirror courtesy of the 1960 coup d’état.In the 1950s scholars started to collect artifacts from all over the country in co-operation with the former Ethnological Society of the University College of Addis Ababa. This collection is the basis for the Institute of Ethiopian Studies today, as well as for the museum. It is located in one of the former palaces of the late emperor

A small staircase, which does not reflect the remainder of the palace, leads to the first floor and ends in a portal, where one of the favorite lions of Haile Selassie is stuffed.

Following the corridor you enter the former reception hall, where an outstanding anthropological exhibition will give an overview of the typical traditions of the country from birth to death. A wide range of topics is shown: childhood, games, rites, food and drinks, nomadism, body culture, traditional medicine, as well as burial customs.

on the same floor the bedrooms of both the late Empress on the right, and the Emperor on the left.

Haile Selassie was overthrown and imprisoned by the military on September 12, 1974 and later executed by the Derg (Military Committee) including his cabinet members, monarchist, and the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Haile Selassie ruled Ethiopia for 45 years before he was overthrown by the Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1974. The 81-year-old emperor was detained in his palace by Mengistu's soldiers. He died a year later, many believe murdered by his captors. His remains were found in 1992, buried under a toilet in the Imperial Palace.

More than 35 years have passed since his death, but his legacy still lives on. Haile Selassie is one of the founding fathers of the OAU and is viewed by many as the figurehead of African independence, for his defiance against the Italian colonial invasion in the 1930s. He is also revered by the million-strong Rastafarian community, who believe that the Ethiopian emperor either remains alive and well, or ascended bodily into heaven.

Compared with the pompous bed and other furniture, the Emperor had a rather small desk at his disposal, just fitting near the window.

The Gannata Le’ul Palace was the site, during the emperor’s absence on a State visit to Brazil on 13 December 1960, of an abortive coup d’ etat, led by Colonel Mengestu Neway, Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard, and his brother Germame Neway.

Crown Prince Asfa Wossen was pressured into broadcasting in favor of a new government, committed to “the progress of the country and its people”. Nineteen prominent officials, including Ato Makonnen Habta Wald, Minister of Commerce, Ras Abebe Arregay, Minister of War and Ras Seyoum, Governor of Tigray, were detained in the Palace’s Green Salon, where, on the collapse of the coup, they were shot.

Though put down by the army and air force, the coup signaled the beginning of the end of imperial rule in Ethiopia. On 12 September 1974 Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by a radical military group known as the Derg (Committee), unceremoniously bundled into the back of a Volkswagen, and driven away to prison. Ministers, nobles and close confidants of the emperor were also arrested by the Derg. The absolute power of the emperor and the divine right of rule of the century-old imperial dynasty was finished – forever?

Next you enter a small dressing room complete with gifts for the Emperor, including miniature cannons and guns

This astonishing silver and gold bowl weighs almost two kilograms and yet is made fine filigree. Commissioned from an Ethiopian craftsman (the palace commissioned filigree silver from one local Addis Ababa craftsman in particular in the 1960s), it was presented by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, most probably in 1969. A crest of the Emperor is worked into the design of the bowl

The gold minaudiere that Emperor Haile Selassie gave as a gift to Jackie when she was First Lady. Evidently because it was a gift of State, it was supposed to be left with the government, but Jackie took it anyway, later gave it to her sister Lee, who later sold it at auction

Some of Haile Selassie's family were executed by firing squad, others were imprisoned

the Emperor’s bathroom is surprisingly in a European 1930s style, with a light blue bath, toilet and double washbasin.

Empress Menen Asfaw (1891-1962), Haile Selassie's wife

When Haile Selassie was enthroned in 1930, he became not only emperor of Ethiopia, but also god to the fledgling Rastafarian movement in Jamaica.

Ras Lumumba, a Sudanese Rastafarian who came to settle in Ethiopia three years ago, says the Emperor is their Messiah or Jah. "Haile Selassie is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the conquering lion of the Tribe of Judah. He is everything to us Rastafarians and we will never accept that he is dead."

In 1992 the body of Haile Selassie was finally discovered. It had been unceremoniously buried beneath Derg leader, Colonel Mengistu’s, old presidential office toilet.

The Great Unifier: Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia Téwodros II baptized as Sahle Dingil, and often referred to in English by the equivalent Theodore II) (1818 – 1868) was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death.

Princess Yeshashwork Yilma Mekonnen, Emperor Hiale Sellassie's Niece

Empress Taytu and Menelik II Ethiopia 1883-1910

Menelik II (1844-1913), is the emperor of Abyssinia (1889-1910). At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state had been completed by 1898. Menelik II was fascinated by modernity, and like Tewodros II before him, had a keen ambition to introduce Western technological and administrative advances into Ethiopia.

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Jean Moldovan Alin Samochis Sanda Negruţiu InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Dawit Ferew Hailu - Instrumental music

Following the corridor you enter the former reception hall, where an outstanding anthropological exhibition will give an overview of the typical traditions of the country from birth to death. A wide range of topics is shown: childhood, games, rites, food and drinks, nomadism, body culture, traditional medicine, as well as burial customs. Attention is also given to different religions in Ethiopia: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, as well as traditional African beliefs. For each topic, information on posters is illustrated with artifacts and pictures.After this quick bird’s eye journey through ethnological Ethiopia, you will find on the same floor the bedrooms of both the late Empress on the right, and the Emperor on the left. Compared with the pompous bed and other furniture, the Emperor had a rather small desk at his disposal, just fitting near the window. Next you enter a small dressing room complete with gifts for the Emperor, including miniature cannons and guns, before you find yourself in the Emperor’s bathroom. It is surprisingly in a European 1930s style, with a light blue bath, toilet and double washbasin.

Unique among African countries, Ethiopia has a written history of over 3,000 years dating back to Queen of Sheba and King Solomon

God's will: The tale behind this picture in the Ethnological Museum in Addis Ababa tells how it was that Menelik I, son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, came to return from a visit to Jerusalem with the original Ten Commandments on tablets of stone in a chest.