Estimated coordinates: 12.492224, 37.219923. Elevation: 2045m.

Gǝğen was traditionally the second stop inAbba Ṣəbra and ṢäggaAmlak's journey to Hoḫwärwa and served as aplace of pilgrimage, where the Səgd was alsocelebrated (Ben-Dor 1985a, 43–44). Though we have not yet been ableto reach this site during fieldwork, its probable location is indicated inhistorical and modern maps (map 22.1). Mt. Gǝğen is located3.5 km south of the Azäzo to Čəlga road and 2 km westof the Gwang River. It is conical in shape, extending ca. 120 mabove its surroundings, and measuring ca. 500 m both north–south andeast–west. An examination on Google Earth reveals that the mountainis not cultivated and no structures are built on it. At the foot of itseastern and southern slopes are clusters of dwellings, and beyond them, aswell as beyond the northern foot of the mountain, are cultivated fields. Thearea at the foot of the moun-tain's western, steeper slope istraversed by streambeds flowing westwards into the GwangRiver.

Qes Ḥadanä Təkuyä (2011, 58)relates that Mt. Gǝğen was blessed by AbbaṢəbra, and that according to rumour the sick are healed there,the poor become rich, barren women give birth, and people find there whatthey seek. He relays a tradition, according to which a woman whose sevenchildren passed away prayed on the mountain and gave birth to seven other,healthy children.

Taamrat Emmanuel, in his account of Betä Ǝsraʾel monksand holy places (Leslau 1974, 636), describes Gǝğen as“the most renowned masgid ‘ place ofworship.’” It is not clear whether he was referring to anactual prayer house in the holy site, or to the site being considered aplace of prayer.

Pilgrimage to Gǝğen and Gwang Ras

As mentioned above, Qes ḤadanäTəkuyä (2011, 58) provides a detailed account of a pilgrimageto Gǝğen and Gwang Ras presided over by the monksof Guraba. A plague had begun spreading from Qwara to the Gondärregion. The priests and monks of Guraba were informed, and instructed thepeople to gather at Gwang Ras, wash their clothes, purifythemselves, and await the monks’ instructions. Three people werechosen by the monks and instructed to buy a young, white cow which had nevercarried a burden and to bring it to Mt. Gǝğen.