The names of several places in the modern town and the general layout of the rock-cut churches themselves are said to mimic names and patterns observed by Lalibela during the time he spent as a youth in Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Əsimawan ən dagan ajotnen daɣ aɣrəm waynayan əd dəmik nasan wadaɣ ən eglisetan iknanen daɣ tahunt sigburnat əsmawan əd haratan atiwan haynen əs Lalibela ugud wan təmidrit ənes daɣ Jérusalem əd Akal šadigan.