Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system , Petra is also called the “Red Rose City” because of the colour of the stone from which it is carved. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
What is so special about Petra?
The site is considered significant by historians and archeologists alike because of its beautiful rock-cut architecture and innovative water management system , the latter of which made the region inhabitable, given that it is surrounded by desert and rugged, mountainous terrain.
What was the purpose of Petra?
Petra began as a main stopping point for Nabataean and foreign traders . These nomadic merchants carried textiles, incense, spices, ivory, and other precious goods grown or manufactured in Arabia, Asia, and Africa. As the trade market grew, so did Petra.
Why is Petra called the Lost City?
It is thought to have been built around 312BC and was rediscovered in modern times by a Swiss explorer in 1812, who uncovered Petra beneath ancient layers of sand , hence the nickname, Lost City. ...
Why is Petra a famous historical site?
Known as the Rose Red City due to the colour of the kingdom’s rock carvings, Petra is Jordan’s most visited attraction . The ancient Nabataean capital remained unknown to the western world until 1812 when a Swiss explorer discovered numerous spectacular sites in the area.
Is Petra one of the 7 Wonders of the World?
The ancient city of Petra in Jordan became one of the 7 New Wonders of the World when it was chosen in 2007 by a vote of 100 million people. The city’s carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples became known around the world with its appearance in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 1989.
Can you go inside the buildings in Petra?
Can you go inside the Treasury at Petra? No, you can’t go inside the Treasury, but there’s nothing to see . It’s just an empty chamber. The Nabataeans, who carved the ancient city of Petra into the cliffs in the 1st century AD, were much more focused on the facade.
What religion is Petra?
Dushara, a Nabataean deity whose name means, “Lord of the Mountain”, he was widely worshiped in Petra. Dushara is venerated as a supreme god by the Nabataeans, oftentimes he is referred as “Dushara and all the gods”.
What is Petra in the Bible?
+3. Sela (Hebrew: סֶּלַע, transliteration Sela‛, meaning rock; Arabic: السلع, es-Sela‛; Greek: πέτρα, ‘Petra’; Latin: petra) is a geographical name encountered several times in the Hebrew Bible. Since, when used with article, it simply translates to “the rock” , it is unreasonable to connect it to just one location.
Is Petra part of Israel?
Petra is the most popular tourist attraction in Jordan . Located in the southwestern part of the country, it is a Nabatean city that was lost for thousands of years. Only rediscovered in the 19th century, the site is a must-see destination for many travelers.
Who destroyed Petra?
Petra fell to the Romans , who annexed Nabataea and renamed it as Arabia Petraea. Petra’s importance declined as sea trade routes emerged, and after an earthquake in 363 destroyed many structures.
Who really built Petra?
Petra was built by the Nabateans in what is now southern Jordan, while the civilization was amassing great wealth trading with its Greek and Persian contemporaries around 150BC.
What is inside Petra?
Petra is a stunning collection of tombs, temples and ancient living spaces of the Nabatean civilisation . ... Some main archeological sites inside the city are the Treasury – the tomb of a Nabatean king, the Monastery – an isolated mountain temple, a theatre, government buildings and dwelling for regular people.
Where is Petra located exactly?
Located amid rugged desert canyons and mountains in what is now the southwestern corner of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Petra was once a thriving trading center and the capital of the Nabataean empire between 400 B.C. and A.D. 106. The city sat empty and in near ruin for centuries.
What was life like in Petra?
Despite the grandeur of its tombs and temples, Petra was above all a city of living people . Home–at its height–to perhaps 20,000 Nabataeans, Romans and merchants from around the ancient world, the valley floor and natural terraces of Petra and its extensive suburbs were crowded with neighborhoods.
What are the original 7 natural wonders of the world?
These 7 natural wonders of the world include the Northern Lights, the Grand Canyon, Paricutin, Mount Everest, Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Victoria Falls, and the Great Barrier Reef . Many of these naturally-formed displays require an aerial view to capture the vastness of each phenomenon.
