Lion of Judah Monument

Bronze lion seized by Italy in 1935 and returned to Addis Ababa in 1960

The golden Lion of Judah, symbol of the Ethiopian imperial dynasty and of Haile Selassie's Rastafarian following, stands near Meskel Square in central Addis. The bronze statue represents the ancient connection between the Ethiopian royal line and the Tribe of Judah as described in biblical tradition.

The statue's history of seizure and return makes it one of the most charged objects in the city. For Rastafarians worldwide, the Lion of Judah is one of the most sacred symbols of their faith, and the monument is a pilgrimage destination for Rastafarian visitors from Jamaica, the Caribbean, and beyond. It is freely accessible at all times.

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The bronze lion was installed at Addis Ababa railway station in 1930. When Italian forces occupied Ethiopia in 1936, Mussolini had it removed and shipped to Rome, where it stood outside the Termini railway station for 25 years. After Ethiopian independence was restored, Italy returned it in 1960 — one of the few cases of colonial-era looting being formally undone during the 20th century.

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