In the desert lands of Jordan lies a magnificent city that was “lost” for hundreds of years. The ancient nomadic civilization of Nabataeans settled in the area now known as Petra and chose to build their capital city between the mountains by Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses). While the exact time of construction is not known, the city is believed to be more than 2,300 years old. In it’s peak the city was home to up 30,000 residents. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Upon arriving at the entrance gate, you must join a long queue to pass through security and then buy a ticket. After entering there is a 0.6 kilometer walk along a gravel path to the half way point. The second half of the walk is through the siq (canyon) that leads directly to the Treasury. Along the canyon there are remnants of the city entrance arch, carvings to their gods and the man-made channels that supplied the city with water.
Petra’s water supply system is a archaeological jewel that has fascinated historians. How could a city of 30,000 people survive in a desert that receives very little rainfall? They created channels that followed the twisted canyon for over a mile while dropping only 12 feet in elevation. This channel brought water from the surrounding mountains into the cisterns they had created to store water. Hundreds of cisterns all over the area have been discovered that were used to collect rainwater and underground water.
The long walk is rewarded as soon as you can steal a glimpse of the Treasury through the canyon. The magnitude and grandeur of what the Nabateans built so long ago takes hold of you.
The treasury is not actually a palace but rather a tomb erected in memory of a fallen king who was killed in battle outside of the city of Petra. His remains were never brought to this place. It was used as a memorial for the Nabataean people.
The walk continues farther into the city. Many tombs and places of worship are still intact as they were built into sandstone mountains. Some other buildings are partially standing and the homes are all but destroyed as they were free standing houses.
In 106 A.D. the Nabataeans were conquered by the Romans. They inhabited the city of Petra until an earthquake caused significant damage in 551 A.D. Throughout the city there is evidence of the Romans life in Petra.
There is evidence that parts of Petra were used as a trader outpost during the Crusades of the 12th Century. After the 12th Century the city was “lost” to the Western world until it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer named Johann Burckhardt in 1812. Excavations have been going on through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Tens of thousands of tourists come from all over the world every year to take in the beautiful history of Petra. It is exciting that excavations continue and more will be uncovered. Currently less than 20% of the city has been recovered. It puts the imagination in overdrive to think about what will be found in the years to come.