There's nothing austere or restrained about the decorative scheme on the interior surfaces in the 13th century Church of Bet Maryam.

Stylized leaves and flowers intermingled with complex and lively geometrical designs (including intricate fretwork suggestive of classical or Islamic influences) grace every inch of the capitals in this photo and the arch that joins them. This is typical of the decorations inside Bet Maryam.

Ethiopians who made the pilgrimage to Lalibela in its heyday must have viewed this interior with awe, since they'd probably never seen anything like it in their lives.

I wish I had had more time to explore Bet Maryam and photograph its marvels.

I could babble on about how this reminds me of Romanesque architecture, and so forth, without having the slightest idea whether I'm making any sense. Someday, I hope to find someone else's scholarly analysis of the Bet Maryam interior.