The Eighth Wonder of the World
April 9, 2009 8:37 AM Subscribe
3D laser scanning offers a fly-through view of the Eighth Wonder of the World. Carved directly into volcanic bedrock, the churches of Lalibela were built during the Zagwe Dynasty (1137-1270). YouTube video of the church and local villagers.
Larger 3d fly-through video (same video, but not stupidly embedded).
posted by Nelson at 8:41 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by Nelson at 8:41 AM on April 9, 2009
Also, this place is super cool. What insanity piety motivated hundreds of people to carve a church from the outside in? Looks beautiful, and thanks for the well researched links to show it to us. Now I have a new place I have to go before I die.
posted by Nelson at 8:49 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Nelson at 8:49 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Lalibela is also the name of a great Ethiopian restaurant in DC--I always wondered where the name came from. Thanks, desjardins.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:51 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:51 AM on April 9, 2009
I've only used a laser scanner once before, this one looked like the head of johnny no. 5 combined with a barcode reader and you have to prep the object with a series of specially reflective stick on dots. I was scanning a small brick of honey comb and because of the little niches it meant I had to go over it a couple of times to get a nice resolution and bring out all the little cells, it took about an afternoon. I can only imagine what scanning Lalibela and attendant churchs must be like.
That said I am super thankful, I can't get enough of ancients carving buildings into rock.
posted by doobiedoo at 9:54 AM on April 9, 2009
That said I am super thankful, I can't get enough of ancients carving buildings into rock.
posted by doobiedoo at 9:54 AM on April 9, 2009
MrMoonPie - holy shit, I think I've been there on my one trip to DC! Has it been open since 1993?
posted by desjardins at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by desjardins at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2009
I can't get enough of ancients carving buildings into rock.
Me neither, especially considering many of us are too lazy to get up off our couches/office chairs for most of the day. OK, I'll just speak for myself there.
posted by desjardins at 9:56 AM on April 9, 2009
Me neither, especially considering many of us are too lazy to get up off our couches/office chairs for most of the day. OK, I'll just speak for myself there.
posted by desjardins at 9:56 AM on April 9, 2009
When will this be made into a video game with big guns and zombies?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:34 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:34 AM on April 9, 2009
Yay! I've been to Lalibela.
Whatinsanity piety motivated hundreds of people to carve a church from the outside in?
I tell you what: The Indians were far more insane than the Ethiopians.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:35 PM on April 9, 2009
What
I tell you what: The Indians were far more insane than the Ethiopians.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:35 PM on April 9, 2009
Also, don't forget Petra, well known from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Carving things out of rock is hardly unique, but it sure left a lot of pretty places to visit...
posted by DreamerFi at 1:12 AM on April 10, 2009
Carving things out of rock is hardly unique, but it sure left a lot of pretty places to visit...
posted by DreamerFi at 1:12 AM on April 10, 2009
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posted by desjardins at 8:41 AM on April 9, 2009