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The ancient Nabataean city of Petra holds many secrets. Historians are just beginning to uncover the story behind this amazing city. Today thousands of tourists visit this site and stare in awe at the huge funerary monuments. While there are over 1000 monuments in Petra, most people are unaware of the amazing people who built this city, hidden in a valley in Southern Jordan.

PETRA: Introduction:

The ancient Nabataean city of Petra holds many secrets. Historians are just beginning to uncover the story behind this amazing city. We here at Nabataea.net believe that in time Petra will become …

Petra:

Petra is the best known of all of the Nabataean cities. Today thousands of tourists visit this site and stare in awe at the huge funerary monuments. While there are over 1000 monuments in Petra, there …

PETRA: Walk In:

Arriving in Petra Petra is located in the country of Jordan in the Middle East. Tourist visas are easy to obtain, and travel to Jordan is usually quite cheap. Once you get to Jordan, local transport …

PETRA: The Small Siq (Thaniya):

As mentioned, there are two main thaniyas, or siqs into Petra. There is also a third, much less know thaniya, that is a great experience. However, this is quite a scamble and should only be done by …

PETRA: Treasury:

As one comes to the end of the siq, the first, and greatest monument of Petra slowly comes into view. This is the famous Treasury monument. It is probably a good idea to stop here and take a picture. …

PETRA: Restoration in the Desert:

Repair Work among the Monuments of Petra, in Jordan The Illustrated London News, March 31, 1962, Page 502⁄503 Archeological Section no 2085 Used by permission In a poor country with a rich …

PETRA: Mystery of the Treasury Monument:

In 1812 the Swiss geographer and scholar, Johannes L. Burckhardt discovered Petra and stood amazed at the magnificence of the Treasury Monument. Since that time thousands of tourists have stood amazed …

PETRA: The Treasury Plaza:

The Treasury Monument in Petra has always been a mystery. No one was sure when the monument was built, nor exactly what its purpose was, although we present an argument on this website that it was the …

PETRA: Street of Facades:

After the viewing the Treasury, we come next to the Street of Facades, which is lined with tall, impressive tombs, with large facades or false faces on their fronts. The street of facades eventually …

PETRA: Water Works:

Along the left hand side of the siq, a covered water channel used to bring water from the spring in Wadi Musa into the center of Petra. Along the right hand side of the siq, clay water pipes …

PETRA: Theater:

The next main monument as we pass along the road into the heart of the city of Petra is the theater up ahead on our left. Petra's theater is cut out of solid rock, and badly deteriorated. The …

PETRA: The Royal Tombs:

The first of the so called Royal Tombs is the Urn Tomb. This tomb is built high on the mountain side, and requires climbing up a number of flights of stairs. Abbe' Starcky has suggested that this …

PETRA: High Place:

also known as Robinson’s High Place The High Place is located at the very top of a mountain. If you want to see it, you will have to climb up there. The main steps to the high place …

PETRA: The Colonnade Street:

The Colonnade Street runs through the center of Petra, with many excavated and unexcavated sites on either side.

PETRA: The Great Temple:

(The Royal Courts?) In 1921 an archeologist named Bachman published a survey of the city of Petra, which soon became a standard that was used by archeologists for several decades. On the south side …

PETRA: The Temple of Al Uzza:

(The Temple of the Winged Lions) The American Expedition to Petra (Utah University) started work on this site in 1974 and excavated it until 2005. Dr. Philip Hammond headed up the excavation for much …

PETRA: The Temple of Dushares / Bint / Hubal:

(Qasr al Bint) Qasr el-Bint, the temple of Dushares, has the largest facade in Petra — 4 m wider than the Khazneh and the Great Temple. It belongs to the Parthian ‘flight’ type of temples …

PETRA: The North Tombs:

The Tombs north of The Royal Tombs The Tombs on this page are located along the side of Jebel el-Kubtha, and are found north of the Royal Tombs. The Sextius Florenthinus Tomb, built for the Roman …

PETRA: The Deir (Monestary):

People in the door of the Deir The Deir monument is 40.2 meters wide and is carved deep into the side of the mountain. The door itself is 8 meters high. The main inside chamber is huge. It is 11.5 …

PETRA: Jebal Habis:

Jebal Habis is a small mountain that stands at the back of Petra. It is dwarfed by the huge shadow of Um al Biera behind it. Jebal Habis is an important mountain however, for along it’s bottom …

PETRA: Um el Beira:

Um el Beira (Biyara) is the great flat topped mountain in the back of Petra. It is possible to climb this mountain if you are good at hiking. Along the left side of the mountain is a processional way …

PETRA: City of Board Games:

At the Second Annual Conference for Nabataean Studies, Dr. Bilal Khrisat of the Hashemite University, presented a paper that introduced the conference to the various board games that are found in …

PETRA: Ancient Board Games:

At the Second Annual Conference for Nabataean Studies, Dr. Bilal Khrisat of the Hashemite University presented a paper that introduced the conference to the various board games that are found in …

PETRA: Rules for Ancient Games:

Rules and Links for the ancient game of Senet Rules The equipment for Senet is very simple: There are 10 movers, each quite different from each other. In the traditional Egyptian game there were 5 …

PETRA: Southern Tombs:

Near the south end of Petra, close to the jinn rocks that mark the southern side of the Sacred Area are a series of tombs seldom visited by tourists. In one tomb there are twelve graves cut into the …

PETRA: Al Sabra Suburb:

In Wadi Sabra, the Nabataeans had an agricultural and industrial settlement. Hewn into the cliff on the left is a theater. Above the theater was a water reservoir. Behind the theater stage is another …

PETRA: City Walls:

Contrary to popular opinion, Petra is not a city hidden in a crack in a rock mountain. That describes the Treasury monument, but not Petra proper. The city of Petra is located in a wide open valley. …

PETRA: Al Beidha:

After Petra, Al Beidha or Little Petra is the next most important site for the casual visitor in Wadi Musa. This site is only a few kilometers from Petra and easily accessible by taxi or rented car. …

PETRA: Al Beidha (The Neolithic Village):

Outside of Beidha one can find the remains of a Neolithic village. This village has been excavated and is open for the public to see. This is a very ancient site that predates Petra and Al Beidha. It …

PETRA: Churches:

The Christian era at Petra came during the 3rd, 4th and 5th centuries, when the area came under Byzantine control. Although the city remained mainly pagan, there were three churches and a cathedral of …

PETRA: Kubtha High Place:

In recent years the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Jordan has repaired the stairs to Al Kubtha Mountain, making it possible for tourists to climb to the top and visit the High Place and other …

PETRA: Small Delights:

A selection of small things to see around Petra. Most of these are beytel or alters. If you visit Petra, see how many of these you can spot on your visit. Can you see the crescent …

PETRA: The Bedul:

The Bedul are a small tribe of Bedouin who used to live in the caves in Petra. The Jordanian government built them a small village north of Petra with schools and modern utilities. Below are some …