Petra


Petra History
This site in Jordan has been inhabited since very ancient times. Petra reached its greatest importance under the Nabataeans, an ancient people whose original homeland was in northeastern Arabia. They migrated westward in the 6th century BC and eventually settled at Petra. Not much is known about the Nabateans’ history before 312 BC, when Petra was unsuccessfully attacked by Seleucid forces. Petra was also made famous by the third Indiana Jones movie.

By the 1st century BC the powerful and rich  Nabataean kingdom that extended from Damascus in the north to the Red Sea in the south, and Petra was home to as many as 30,000 people. It was during this period that the most amazing structures of Petra were built, including the Treasury, the Great Temple and the Qasr el-Bint el-Faroun.

In the 1st century AD the Siq was paved and the beautiful classical theater was constructed. After annexation, Roman touches were added to Petra such as the colonnaded cardo (main street). A Nabataean-style tomb was built in Petra for the Roman governor of Arabia Sextius Florentius (127 AD), and a high-ranking Roman soldier was buried in another tomb. The Urn Tomb also dates from this period (2nd-3rd century).

Various tombs and temples at Petra were also used as churches, including the Monastery and the Urn Tomb.

Petra

Christianity arrived in the 4th century, and a Byzantine church, whose ruins can still be seen at Petra, was built around 450-500 AD.

After the Crusades, Petra became a “lost city,” known only to local Arabs. It was hidden from the Western world for more than 500 years. Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered Petra in 1812. The Swiss explorer was a brilliant student with a passion for adventure, and in 1809 he was contracted by a London-based association to explore the “interior parts of Africa.” After intense study of Islam and Arabic for three years, Burckhardt disguised himself as a Muslim scholar, took the name Ibrahim ibn Abdullah, and set out for Egypt. On his way, however, he was intrigued by local tales of a lost city in the mountains. In 1812, he became the first modern Westerner to see Petra using the pretense that he wanted to offer a sacrifice to the Prophet Aaron, he persuaded a guide to take him there.

Petra Visitor Information
Petra is a huge archaeological site and you will need 1 to 3 days to fully explore it. Guided Tours are available, and staff at the Petra Visitor’s Center at entrance of the site are at your service to answer your questions and provide assistance.

Petra is open from 6 AM to 6 PM everyday.

Entrance Fees:
Adults: one day: US$ 16 two days: US$ 20 three days: US$ 23
Students and Children under 12 years: one day: US$ 8.5 two days: US$ 10.25 three days: US$ 12

However, the best way to see Petra is on a guided tour, whether organized through the park service or via a tour group. Petra has a lot of history and taking a tour can help you understand the site and its meaning much more.
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Highlights and what you should see while at Petra include:

  • Al-Khaznehis - Also known as The Treasury. It sits about  40 meters high, completely carved in the rock, this is however the most impressive and famous  building of Petra. Kazneh means treasure; it was not a temple but simply a tomb. The Bedouins have long thought that the urn at the top was containing the treasure of the dead that has rested there for some time.It is good to arrange to see it in the morning with the light shining on it.
  • The Street of Facades - After viewing the Treasury, next you will come to the Street of Facades, which is lined with tall impressive tombs with large facades or false faces on their fronts. The street eventually leads down to the heart of the city proper.
  • The Sig - The Sig is a mile-long narrow gorge that leads into the city of Petra. To reach the start of the Sig, visitors must first walk about a half a mile down the wide valley known as Bab as-Sig. You can rent a horse or donkey to carry you there or walk and see all of the sights along the way.
  • The Monastery - When you see post cards of Petra or those little stone carvings, it is almost certain that it is going to be an image of the Monestary. Along with the Treasury at the opposite end of Petra, it is probably the best preserved building in the ancient city, and an obvious must see. You can walk or take a donkey. If you walk, be prepared to climb many many steps.

Petra Conservation Efforts
Petra was declared a World Heritage site in 1985. Tourism at Petra has been a double-edged sword because of vandalism, litter, and other problems associated with increased traffic. In the last twenty years, many projects have been undertaken by the Jordanian government and outside agencies to preserve the site. Among the more successful conservation efforts is one that has dealt with the infrastructure needed to serve the tourism industry. In 1996, a $27 million plan was set up to create an adequate drainage system and a new road network to replace the one currently clogged with buses and taxis.

In more recent years, the Jordanian government has taken very seriously their commitment to preserve this valuable historical site, considered by many Jordanians to be a priceless national treasure. For long-term restoration and conservation of the actual monuments, a German-Jordanian consortium has created the Conservation and Restoration Center in Petra (CARCIP) to provide permanent, on-site preservationists, architects, and stonecutters whose sole responsibility is the upkeep and protection of the site.

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