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 PetraPetra is a famous city carved out of stone, hidden by towering sandstone mountains in Jordan. It was an important city, and was the main city of an ancient people called the Nabataens, who lived in southern Jordan, Canaan and the northern part of Arabia, and created a kingdom with its capital at Petra. Lying in the centre of an ancient caravan trade routes, Petra benefited from the resulting commerce. Caravans pass through Petra for Giza in the south, Bosra and Damascus in the north, Aqaba on the Red Sea, and eastward to the Persian Gulf.Until they settled at Petra, the Nabateans were largely nomadic. They founded Petra around the 6th century BC and ruled over it until AD 100, when the Romans conquered Petra. In AD 106 it was absorbed into the Roman Empire and was known as Arabia Petraea. Although having lost its autonomy, Petra continued to flourish for another one hundred years. It then began to decline when trade routes changed. An earthquake in AD363 devastated Petra and destroyed its waterworks. Petra lay in ruins until the 12th century, when the Crusaders occupied it and built a citadel there. After they were gone, Petra was left to its native inhabitants. It was first seen by a Westerner in 1812, when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt discovered it. Petra was made popular in recent times by the Indiana Jones movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The name Petra, which means "rock" in Greek and Latin (derived from the word petrae), is actually a modern name for the place. This is because the city was carved from the friable sandstone cliffs of the area. The rocks take on a multitude of hues ranging from cream to orange, to red, and to dark brown. Layers of these rocks form whorls of colours which were incorporated into the Nabatean architecture. Scholars are unable to confirm the actual ancient name of Petra, though the most likely is Rekem. Rekem is a site mentioned in the Dead Sea scrolls and closely resembled Petra in description. Nevertheless, it has been known as Petra, or Petraea, since Roman times. Petra was recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site since 1985, and was described as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage." On 7 July 2007, it was voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. LanguageThe Nabataen language was influenced by the Aramaic language from around the 2nd century BC, and the Nabataens adopted an alphabet derived from the Aramaic alphabet. From the 4th century AD onwards, as Arabic influence increased, the Nabataen language absorbed more and more of it in place of Aramaic. The Arabic alphabet, which developed through the 5th century AD, was influenced by the Nabataen script.Exploring PetraPetra is located in the mountains on the east side of Arabah, the valley that runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. It is about 3-5 hours from Amman, the capital of Jordan. Although it was entered from the south in ancient times, nowadays, tourists visiting Petra enter it from the east. A Visitor Centre was put up since 2006 to facilitate access. To enter Petra, one goes through a dusty trail along Wadi Musa (The Valley of Moses). You will see small Nabatean tombs on the rocky outcrops to your left and right. Farther down, you come upon the sandstone cliffs that rise like a wall on your left. On your right is an opening to the Siq (meaning the "shaft"), the narrow passage that leads to Petra. The Siq was a natural geological feature which was formed when there was a deep split in the sandstone rocks. It narrows to no more than 3-5 metres wide in places, and form a gorge that keeps the sun out.Going through the Siq, you will see how the Nabateans were able to survive in the harsh environment. They built a dam to divert the flow of a nearby stream, and used the water to create an artificial oasis in Petra. This water management system also prevents floods from occuring. The Siq is about one kilometre in length. Those not wishing to walk can ride a horse or take a horse-drawn carriage. Motorised vehicles are however prohibited from entering. As you approach the end of the Siq, you catch your first glimpse of the most famous building in Petra - the iconic El Khazneh (also written Al Khazneh), which is Arabic for the Treasury. It was so named because the latter inhabitants believed that the Nabateans stored treasure there. In reality, El Khazneh was probably used as a temple or a tomb, or probably as both. Built between 100 BC and 200 AD and like many other "buildings" in Petra, it was really a facade carved out of the sandstone cliff. El Khazneh soars about 40 metres from the desert floor. Despite its intricate exterior, upon entering, you will realise that there is nothing much inside. The interior was simply a square chamber carved into the cliff. It doesn't extend deep inside either. Like most of the tombs in Petra, Al Khazneh was carved right out of the sandstone cliff. the exterior is exquisite while the interior plain. Although it is Petra's most elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh is by no means the only sight worth visiting. There are more tombs and chambers on the cliffs surrounding Al Khazneh. The smaller tombs look like black holes on the cliff walls. On the left of Al Khazneh to the left, at the foot of a mountain called en-Nejr, is an amphitheatre that can accommodate up to 8000 people. There are more tombs on the rock walls behind it. When the amphitheatre was carved, it was probably cut into some of the existing tombs as well. Getting thereThe best way to get there is via charter tours from Amman and Aqaba. Alternatively, as an independent traveler, you can hire a taxi from Amman to take you there. Expect to pay around 75 Jordanian dinars (JD) for the whole trip of six hours. The Jordan Express Travel & Tourism Bus Company (JETT) runs air conditioned buses to Petra from Amman. The cost is about 11 or 12 JD for a return trip. Entry to the Petra Archaeological Park is 21 JD for a day pass, 26 JD for 2 days and 30 JB for 3 days, available at the Visitor Centre. Guides are also available for 10 JD plus.What to seeThe following are highlights and attractions of Petra:Photography TipsThe best time to see Petra is either early to mid morning, or late afternoon, so that the angle of the sunlight can best bright out the natural colours of the stones. |
Map: Petra 
 The Treasury (Al Khazneh), Petra, Jordan by Markv (GFDL)  A glimpse of the Treasury, Petra Author: Daniele Nasi | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners 
 The sandstone terrain of Petra Author: snorth | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 Rock formations at Petra Author: snorth | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 Circles in the sandstone Author: Philippe Stoop | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 The Monastery Author: zerega | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 The designs on the sandstone Siq Author: zerega | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 Going through the canyon of Petra Author: ullikummi | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 The Treasury side room, Petra Author: archae traveler | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
 Beauty in stone Author: anne66 | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
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