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Petra
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Petra

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Place overview

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Petra is a top tourist attraction in Jordan. It is tucked behind a wall of rugged mountains, a well-kept secret that continues to beckon to tourists because of its unrivaled views of the ancient world. This city is amazingly carved out of rose-red rock. It is imposing, majestic as it is historical.

A world heritage site and wonder

Situated in Jordan 133 kilometers north of Aqaba and 262 kilometers south of Amman, the Petra is the Nabataeans' gift to the world. The Nabataeans are refined people and are characterized by their creativity and ingenuity demonstrated via huge structures – buildings, water channels, and dams. 

Petra has also been declared as one of the New 7. The Smithsonian Magazine chose Petra as one of the '28 Places to See Before You Die.' It was also declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Petra has been in marvelous existence for more than 400 years. It was later occupied by Emperor Trajan, who led the Roman legions in 106 A.D.

Architecture

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The buildings are reminiscent of a mixture of Hellenistic, Assyrian, Roman, and Egyptian architecture.

Site features

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El-Khazneh

The Treasury (or El-Khazneh) features the famous intricately carved facade filled with Nabataean gods and characters from myths, such as the Medusa heads, the horse-like figures of Pollux and Castor, winged Victories and dancing Amazons. There are 800 such individual monuments, and you will have the time of your life exploring the streets lined with temples, arched gateways, buildings, baths, tombs, and funerary halls. What's even more amazing is that more of these were carved from the sandstone. The grounds in front of the famous façade of El-Khazneh also served as an  Indiana Jones filming location (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).

Houses in the Petra archeological site in Jordan.
Houses in the Petra archeological site in Jordan. [Report image]

Also, in the courtyard, you will find the Bab Al-Siq Triclinium and the Obelisk Tomb. The Triclinium is a rock with rooms carved into it and benches placed at its interiors. The city features the Street of Facades meanwhile, the Theater (which seats 3,000 people), and the Royal and Urn Tombs. The Royal Tombs house what are believed to be Nabataean kings, while the Urn Tomb has small niches that lead to burial chambers.

The city center

At the center of the archeological complex, you can find the Nymphaeum remnants (a public fountain dedicated to water nymphs), the Colonnaded Street, which leads one through to the Temple of the Winged Lions. At the end of Colonnaded Street, you will also find a ceremonial entrance to the Qasr Al-Bint Temple called the Arched Gate. This gate is of Greco-Roman design.

Qasr Al-Bint Temple

With its massive walls (23 meters high!), this is the most important temple at the Petra and is built in honor of Dushara (later to become Dionysus, the Greek God of wine). It has three rooms with a stone god block.

Al-Habees Museum

For more on the Nabataeans culture, you can also look at the Al-Habees, which is a museum and the Habees High Place. Climbing up on further, you will find the High Place of Sacrifice, which is to be found on top of Attuf Ridge. There is still a host of monuments and buildings you can look into.

Visiting information and tips

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Some dromedaries on break at the Petra site in Jordan.
Some dromedaries on break at the Petra site in Jordan. [Report image]

The sun can add to this site's magnificence – come late afternoon or early morning, the sun shines and illumines the multicolored stones.

The Petra can be entered through the Siq, a long and narrow gorge that suddenly opens to The Treasury, a structure prominently displayed at the square. The glowing sun provides a dazzling first sight of Petra in all its glory. 

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Last edited by: Goparoo

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Petra Pictures


Petra Reviews

The Petra has a standard rating score of 9.1 .


Quick facts

  • Name meaning

    Rock
  • Construction period

    Around the 5th or 4th century BC

  • The Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

External resources



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