The Rock of the Nabataeans

Petra!

(Greek word that means 'rock')

Hazy, Hi 74, Lo 58, Wind 7mph (Perfect)

Now the world calls it Petra, a Greek word that means 'rock'. UNESCO calls it a world heritage site - worthy of protection for future generations. Petra would become so famous that its name would be recorded in Chinese,  Greek, Roman and Byzantine records. When the Nabataeans civilization began building this amazing city, they called it  Rekum.  It is a sight never to be forgotten.

Tombs of the Kings

A city hand-carved from limestone

Carved by Hand

At its height — in the century or so prior to and after the birth of Christ — the Nabataean empire included parts of Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia. And the seat of the kingdom was Petra, a city that the Nabataeans literally carved by hand from the rose-red cliffs of what is now southern Jordan

The Siq

Hidden away

Even today visitors to Petra note that the city is hidden in the cliffs, reachable through a thin split in the mountain — a split known as the Siq that is almost a mile in length but only 10 to 20 feet in width with walls on either side that rise hundreds of feet to the sky. After Petra was abandoned and fell into ruins, only local people knew of it's existence. For over 500 years the city was forgotten. In the 1800's Petra was rediscovered by western explorers.

In it's Day, Perhaps Wealthiest City in the World

Some time before the birth of Christ the Nabataeans shifted from a nomadic lifestyle to become prosperous urban dwellers with marvelous skills as architects, engineers, stonemasons and artists.Petra was probably one of the wealthiest cities in the world in its day in the middle of one of the harshest climates on earth.

 Water Channel in the Siq

Clay Ceramic Water Pipe

It's the Water

In an area that averages six inches of rainfall per year the Nabataeans were able to harness the rainfall and the desert springs to the extent that Petra had a daily supply of fresh water. They accomplished this engineering marvel through an intricate system of cisterns, pools and waterways that captured and then transported water to the city. Archaeologists estimate that the system carried about 12 million gallons of fresh spring water a day!

Caravans and Wealth

Petra was located at the intersection of two commercial trade routes, one extending west from Asia and the other north from southern Arabia. Large trade caravans (as many as 2,500 camels) flowed along these routes with a variety of goods: textiles, spices, precious metals, ivory and incense such as frankincense and myrrh. 

At Petra the Nabataeans offered water and a safe haven for merchants, but they also collected a fee for their services. The Nabataeans became rich by acquiring control of the Arabian incense trade by 100 BC and they used their significant wealth to build a remarkable city in Petra.

How to Carve a City

The facades of the buildings were all laid out by a master architect on detailed blueprints. Laborious, pain-staking work began with the carving of a ledge into the cliff face. From this ledge the work proceeded downward to the ground level. The facades were characterized by bold cornices and stately columns and intricate, detailed carvings.

Digging out a tomb — which was used for a multitude of purposes besides housing the deceased — was also a laborious process as literally tons of solid rock needed to be removed from the cliff to create a space inside the tomb. Interestingly the Nabataeans used this rubble to make flagstone pavement for the floor of the tomb.

Pottery for the Ages

The Nabataeans created pottery that rivaled that of Rome and Greece both for delicacy and decorative elegance.

 Male Deity Dushara

Female Goddess, perhaps Al-'Uzza

Changes

Things changed for the Nabataeans and Petra around AD 106 when Nabataea, including Petra, was peacefully taken over by Rome.The city was struck by a major earthquake in AD 363 and a new chapter in the city's history began. Christianity slowly came to Petra. This Christian influence that led to the salvaging and rebuilding of much of the work the Nabataeans had done that had been destroyed by the earthquake.

Traveling through Petra

"You want to ride a horse?"

After a pre-amble (or horse back ride) you reach a slot canyon - the Siq. The Siq is a natural 0.8 mile long sandstone gorge the gradually winds its way down toward the ancient city of Petra. Water channels ran along each side of the Siq and clay pipes carried fresh water from springs. In ancient times the Siq witnessed a constant procession of travelers, visitors and pilgrims. The same is true today.

Now you have a choice to view the canyon: carriage or walking.

"You want a carriage ride?"

The Siq

 Carriages zip through the Siq

The Treasury

At the end of the Siq, the canyon opens onto the stunning view of the Treasury. (See the blog: "The walk to the Treasury on the way to Petra") 

Next Stop is Lunch

At the cool, refreshing Crowne Plaza Basin Cafe - truly an oasis in the desert!

How to get there

 Walk or go by camel

Ship of the Desert

Oh, the sights you'll see!

 Two-car garage (reserved parking for the local tribe's people

 Beautiful rose-colored sandstone

Mounted Tourist Police (think Park Ranger, sort of)

After Lunch, the Monastery

Choices: walk or go by donkey.

"800+ steps up to Monastery, madame. You want a ride?"

 Huff & Puff

The Monastery is about an hour's climb hour's climb from the Basin Restaurant on an ancient rock-cut path of about 800 steps. 

Break time for this donkey

The Monastery is similar to design to the Treasury, but it is much larger and much less decorated. Like the "Treasury," the name "Monastery" is a rather inaccurate. Although it may have been later used as a church (or even a hermitage), it was probably a temple.