Petra in Time

Jordan is full of archaeological riches, from the Neolithic ruins to the Desert Castles of Umayyad princes. Chief among these national treasures is the soul-stirring "Rose-Red City of Petra", now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In order to preserve the site, all tourist facilities have been located in the town of Wadi Musa, right next to the main entrance of Petra.
Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. From a remote staging post, they dominated the trade routes of ancient Arabia, levying tolls and sheltering caravans laden with Indian spices and silks and African ivory and animal hides.

In addition to being accomplished traders, the Nabataeans were noted for their skill in architecture and hydraulic engineering. They carved magnificent tombs directly into the rose-colored sandstone cliffs and built thousands of other structures including temples, burial chambers, theaters, shops, and houses.
Engineers developed and maintained an elaborate network of terraces, damns, and irrigation channels that allowed the Nabataeans to cultivate the soil of the surrounding plateau and bring running water into the city. At the height of its prosperity, Petra was home to a diverse population of over 20,000 people.

What To See

Much of Petra's appeal comes from its spectacular setting deep inside a narrow desert gorge. From the main entrance you walk into The Chasm (known as Siq) that ripped through the rock in a prehistoric quake.
Threading your way between the cliff walls as they soar to 80 meters, you pass inscriptions in ancient languages and rock-cut chambers carved into the whorls of sandstone.

Petra's most famous monument, The Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the Siq. Used in the final sequence of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this towering façade is only the first of Petra's secrets. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of rock-cut tombs and temple façades, funerary halls and rock relief, enough to keep you here for many days

Some of the highlights include a 7,000-seat amphitheatre from the early 1st century AD, a palace tomb in the typical Roman style, and a Gigantic 1st century monastery (Al Deir). A modest shrine commemorating the death of Aaron, brother of Moses, was built in the 13th century by the Mamluke Sultan, high atop Mount Aaron (Jabal Haroun) in the Sharah range.

North of the Treasury lies the massif of Jebel Khubtha. Three large structures, identified as the Royal Tombs, have been carved into the rock face, which is known as the King's Wall. It is unclear which kings are being referred to here, or whether this is simply another popular name with no basis in historical fact.

Towards the amphitheatre is an open marketplace and a nymphaeum, or public fountain. At the opposite end is the Temenos Gateway, which marked the entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Dushara.

In the courtyard lies the extensively restored world heritage site, the Temple of Dushara (popularly known as Qasr Al Bint Firaun) a large free-standing structure, built of massive blocks of yellow sandstone.

Dushara was the principal god of the Nabataeans; his partner, the fertility goddess Atagartis, was worshipped at the Temple of the Winged Lions, which faces the Temple of Dushara. In Roman times, these temples would have been taken over for the worship of the appropriate Roman gods, possibly Apollo and Artemis respectively. In the city's Byzantine period, it is likely that they were also adapted for Christian worship.

These sights are at their best in the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun confers warm tones on the multi-colored stone, and you can view the majesty of Petra as Burckhardt saw it in 1812. When he made his journey, the road was long and arduous. Now a few hours' drive from Amman brings you to this unforgettable destination.

North from the Treasury lies the massif of Jebel Khubtha. Three large structures, identified as the Royal Tombs, have been carved into the rock face, which is known as the King's Wall.

It is unclear which kings are being referred to here, or whether this is simply another popular name with no basis in historical fact.

Towards the amphitheatre is an open marketplace and a nymphaeum, or public fountain. At the opposite end is the Temenos Gateway, which marked the entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Dushara.

In the courtyard lies the extensively restored world heritage site, the Temple of Dushara (popularly known as Qasr Al Bint Firaun) a large free-standing structure, built of massive blocks of yellow sandstone.

Dushara was the principal god of the Nabataeans; his partner, the fertility goddess Atagartis, was worshipped at the Temple of the Winged Lions, which faces the Temple of Dushara. In Roman times, these temples would have been taken over for the worship of the appropriate Roman gods, possibly Apollo and Artemis respectively. In the city's Byzantine period, it is likely that they were also adapted for Christian worship.

These sights are at their best in the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun confers warm tones on the multi-colored stone, and you can view the majesty of Petra as Burckhardt saw it in 1812. When he made his journey, the road was long and arduous. Now a few hours' drive from Amman brings you to this unforgettable destination.