The National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa

The collection on show at the National Museum is ranked among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa. Far and away the highlight is the palaeontological exhibition in the basement, the home of world-famous Lucy. Her 1974 discovery in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins forever.

On the basement level, you'll find two remarkable casts of Lucy, a fossilised hominid and easily Ethiopia's best-known ancient inhabitant. One lays prone, while the other stands much as she did some 3.2 million years ago, truly hitting home how small our ancient ancestors were. The real bones are preserved in the archives of the museum.

Also here is the fossilized evidence of some amazing extinct creatures, like the massive sabre-toothed feline Homotherium and the gargantuan savannah pig Notochoerus.

The periphery of the ground floor focuses on the pre-Aksumite, Aksumite, Solomonic and Gonderian periods. The wide array of artefacts includes an elaborate pre-1st-century-AD bronze oil lamp showing a dog chasing an ibex, a fascinating 4th-century-BC rock-hewn chair emblazoned with mythical ibexes, and ancient Sabaean inscriptions. The middle of the room hosts a collection of lavish royal paraphernalia, including Emperor Haile Selassie’s enormous (and rather hideous) carved wooden throne.

On the 1st floor, there's a vivid display of Ethiopian art ranging from early (possibly 14th-century) parchment to 20th-century canvas oil paintings by leading modern artists. Afewerk Tekle's massive African Heritage is one of the most notable pieces. Another painting depicts the meeting of Solomon and Sheba. Note the shield of the soldier next to Solomon, which is engraved with the Star of David and a Christian Cross. The artist must have forgotten that this meeting is said to have occurred long before the birth of Christianity.

The 2nd floor contains a dusty and poorly labelled collection of secular arts and crafts, including traditional weapons, jewellery, utensils, clothing and musical instruments.

English-speaking guides are available for free (they should be tipped afterwards) and help to bring things alive.

One of the entrances to the museum is closed.

Entrance gate to the National Museum of Ethiopia.

Immediately after the entrance you will find many monuments and statues in the courtyard.

Abune Petros statue.

Alexander Pushkin statue, it is believed that he had an Ethiopian blood.

Alexander Pushkin statue.

Statue of young woman and the boy.

Statue of the unknown General.

Statue of a man and two boys.

This building is beside the museum.

This vintage car is one of the automobiles which entered Ethiopia in the early 20th century.

Statue of Haile Selassie.

National Museum of Ethiopia.

A cannon used by Emperor Menelik II at the Battle of Adwa 1896.

Statue of emperor Haile Selassie teaching 12 students.

Olmec Head from the people of Mexico to the people of Ethiopia, 2010.

Welcome to the National Museum of Ethiopia.

They were named Homo sapiens idaltu.

Empress Zewditu's Chair.

Weapons of Emperor Tewodros II (1855-1868).

Parasol of Empress Mentewab, 18th century.

Yeha Tigray, 2nd half of the 1st millennium BC, content of Grave 6.

Model of Archaeological remains of Dongur Edifice, 6th century AD (Axum, Tigray).

Matara, Eritrea.

Tigray ancient utensils.

Million years of life and culture in Ethiopia.

Some 3.18 million years ago, Lucy's body was slowly sinking in the mud of a lake.

Skulls of Suids and Bovids.

Mandibule of Nyanzachoerus, a large omnivorous pig from the Afar region.

Long skull of an ancient animal.

By comparing their features, we can reconstruct their family tree through time.

In Ethiopia, some fossil crocodilians have short jaws, others have long jaws.

Skull of a buffalo ancestor.

Skulls of ancient hippopotamuses.

Complete cranium of Deinotherium bozasi, an extinct, large elephant relative.

Proboscideans.

Cranium of a male Theropithecus, a large gelada ancestor from Omo Valley.

Comparing hip bones.

A partial skeleton of a female Ardipithecus ramidus, known as “Ardi”.

Lucy skeleton reconstruction.

Selam, partial skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis.

Known from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya, Au. afarensis is an early species of Australopithecus from which the later species evolved.

Australopithecus garhi.

The Acheulean: sharping large tools.

Craniums of Bodo and Idaltu.

Oil painting, St Mercury, 17th century; Painting of the Queen of Sheba.

Ethiopian christian painting “The Journey of the Queen of Sheba”, meeting of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba.

Oil painting “The Trinity”.

Haile Selassie on a horse.

Horse and rider painting.

“Hammer and Sickle” painting.

“Victim of Famine” by Eshetu Tiruneh, 1974.

Oil painting “African Heritage” by Afewerk Tekle.

“The Last Supper” by Mengistu Chernet.

Haile Selassi's Banquet.

“Map of Ethiopia in faces”, painting.

Agricultural tools.

Tools for leather finishing.

Farming tools.

Some traditional Ethiopian clothing.

Musical instruments.

Weapons and military uniforms.

Traditional things.

Empress Menen's Chair.

Emperor Haile Selassie's Throne.

Inner interior of the museum “Planet Earth, miracle of the Universe”.

The oldest known cranium of modern humans, found in Ethiopia and dating back 160,000 years.

Crowns belonging to the Ethiopian Emperors /Made of precious stones/, 19th - 20th century.

Metatarsal of Sivatherium, an extinct, short-necked giraffe relative.

Lucy is the common name of AL 288-1, partial skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis.

Selam (DIK-1/1) is the fossilized skull and other skeletal remains of a three-year-old Australopithecus afarensis female.

This exhibition at the Ethiopian National Museum gallery features the works of Worku Goshu.