Of all the ancient cities in the world, few amaze and delight as much as Petra.
Located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, in Jordan, 200 km south of Amman, the capital. Petra, the Nabatean, is located in a valley in the mountainous area of Edom. It is the major tourist site of the region.
The first traces of habitation date back eleven thousand years. But the real boom began when a tribe of Arab nomads, the Nabataeans, settled on the site around the fifth century AD. They prospered thanks to the caravan trade routes that passed through there. Incense, myrrh, Chinese silk, spices, cotton, etc. allowed the Nabateans to build a majestic city with grandiose architecture and lush gardens. It is all the more grandiose when you realize that there are very few buildings in Petra. The monuments were “extracted” from the rock!
The city gradually “died out” when the trade routes changed their route. Abandoned after a devastating earthquake in 749 and then forgotten for centuries, it was Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, Swiss explorer and adventurer who rediscovered Petra in 1812.
2022. The discovery of the site remains a wonder. After crossing the Siq, a kind of canyon of one thousand five hundred meters long, the visitor discovers the “Khazneh”, the most famous monument of Petra. The discovery of the site really starts here. And it’s so huge that the administration has scheduled three-day passes…
The images are divided into categories corresponding to the different places of visit. To find them, click here.
The literature around Petra is very abundant. Wikipedia is a good place to start researching.
Tarek Charara
The Khazneh at nine AM
9:00 AM, The sun is rising on the Khazneh (al-Firaun). One of the best known buildings of Petra. Carved in the Sandstone it is 40m high and 28m large, it’s architecture is of hellenistic influence. Built in the 1st century BC, it is probably the tomb of the nabatean king Areats IV. The name “Khazneh (al-Firaun” means ‘(The pharao’s) treasury’ in arabic.
Water channels in the Siq canyon
A water channel are carved into the left (when going towards the site) wall of the Siq. They were originally covered. On the right hand side, clay pipelines were used to transport water into the ancient city.
Colours of Petra.
Colours of Petra.
Tourists
Tourists admire the small flascs containing designs made with coloured sand found on the site.
Tourists gather in front of the Khazneh
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
The Khazneh appears suddenly
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
Bedouin soldiers at the Khazneh
Jordanian Beduin soldiers sitting at the Khazneh
The tomb of the Sextius Florentinus
The tomb of the Sextius Florentinus can be found heading north after the Royal Tombs. Sextius Florentinus was the Roman Governor of Arabia under the reign of emperor Hadrian, between 126 and 130 AD. He died in Petra before his nomination as consul.
A Bedouin woman from the Bedul tribe
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
Inside the Siq
Main entrance to the anfient city of Petra, the siq is a narrow canyon that is approximately 1500 meters long. The enclosing walls are 90 to 200m tall. The people in the picture give the scale.
The urn tomb
The urn tomb is carved into the cliff of the Jabal al- Khubtah. It’s part of the Royal Tombs north of the theatre and facing the Qasr al-Bint temple. The urn tomb with it’s hellenistic style facade is probably the tomb of a prince or a king (maybe Malichos II). It was transformed into a church in the year 447 AD. The staircase, supported by two levels of archs, that leads to the monument is from the byzantine era. Here, the courtyard with the colonnades on both sides.
Tourists admiring the colors of Petra
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
The urn tomb
The urn tomb is carved into the cliff of the Jabal al- Khubtah. It’s part of the Royal Tombs north of the theatre and facing the Qasr al-Bint temple. The urn tomb with it’s hellenistic style facade is probably the tomb of a prince or a king (maybe Malichos II). It was transformed into a church in the year 447 AD. The staircase, supported by two levels of archs, that leads to the monument is from the byzantine era.
The caravaneers
On the left walls of the Siq (when going into Petra) 2 caravaneers and their dromedaries have been carved into the rock. Unfortunately the erosion of time has destroyed the upper part significantly.
On the way to the Deir
On the way to the “monastery” – Al Deir.
The urn tomb
The urn tomb is carved into the cliff of the Jabal al- Khubtah. It’s part of the Royal Tombs north of the theatre and facing the Qasr al-Bint temple. The urn tomb with it’s hellenistic style facade is probably the tomb of a prince or a king (maybe Malichos II). It was transformed into a church in the year 447 AD. The staircase, supported by two levels of archs, that leads to the monument is from the byzantine era. The courtyard in front of the tomb.
The Siq
Main entrance to the anfient city of Petra, the siq is a narrow canyon that is approximately 1500 meters long. The enclosing walls are 90 to 200m tall.
Taking a nap
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
Wadi Mussa
Sunrise over Wadi Mussa.
The Royal tombs
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
The “Corinthian tomb”
The “Corinthian tomb”.
The Caravaneers
On the left walls of the Siq (when going into Petra) 2 caravaneers and their dromedaries have been carved into the rock. Unfortunately the erosion of time has destroyed the upper part significantly.
The Khazneh
Khazneh (al-Firaun). One of the best known buildings of Petra. Carved in the Sandstone it is 40m high and 28m large, it’s architecture is of hellenistic influence. Built in the 1st century BC, it is probably the tomb of the nabatean king Areats IV. The name “Khazneh (al-Firaun” means ‘(The pharao’s) treasury’ in arabic.
The urn tomb
The urn tomb is carved into the cliff of the Jabal al- Khubtah. It’s part of the Royal Tombs north of the theatre and facing the Qasr al-Bint temple. The urn tomb with it’s hellenistic style facade is probably the tomb of a prince or a king (maybe Malichos II). It was transformed into a church in the year 447 AD. The staircase, supported by two levels of archs, that leads to the monument is from the byzantine era. Here, the courtyard with the colonnades on both sides.
A bedouin from the Bedoul tribe
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
Tourists
Tourists admire the small flascs containing designs made with coloured sand found on the site.
A young Bedouin from the Bedul tribe
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
A proud Bedul Bedouin
A Bedoul Beduin, young and proud on his donkey.
Tourists
Tourists in front of the Khazneh (treasury).
Al Deir
After a twenty minute walk through the siq, the discovery of the Khazneh.
A water channel in the Siq
A water channel are carved into the left (when going towards the site) wall of the Siq. They were originally covered. On the right hand side, clay pipelines were used to transport water into the ancient city.
