17th-century palace in Gondar, Ethiopia

December 1969 Issue

17th-century palace in Gondar, Ethiopia

The subject of September’s photo can be found within the city of Gondar in Ethiopia. It is one of the 17th-century palaces in the Royal Enclosure.

For centuries, Ethiopian royalty was nomadic, living in tents and moving from place to place. In 1635, Emperor Fasiledes established Gondar as Ethiopia’s capital city, which it remained until 1855. Today, what's left of many of the royal palaces, churches and other buildings lie surrounded by the modern city.

Six readers sent in correct answers, and RICHARD WALKER of La Jolla, California, won the drawing. We thank Betty Serow of Tallahassee, Florida, for sending in the photo.