Petra, Jordan

Petra was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

We have a prelude the first evening that we arrive in the area – a brief tour of ‘Little Petra‘, which in reality is a northern suburb of Petra called Sis al-Berid.

Petra deserves at least two days to explore which, unfortunately, we do not have. We stay in nearby Wadi Musa.

Google Map highlights The Treasury ( Al-Khazneh) and The Great Temple, both highlights of Petra:

Petra was home to the Nabateans – a tribe of Beduins – who originally came from the Arabian desert (647 BC) and were the first to inhabit the valley floor.

One of my several G Adventures group ‘photo ops’:

For several hundred years – first centuries BC and AD – Petra was in its prime as a key overland trading hub between East and West and became very prosperous and wealthy, with a population nearing 30,000 inhabitants.

Petra Central

We start our walk into the city. Year 2022 has lots of distractions to augment the tourists’ experience:

Just before entering the Siq, about half way to The Treasury, we pass the first major edifice – The Tomb of the Obelisks.

The Siq, (Arabic word for ‘the passage’) often very narrow as shown below, is the main entrance to the city. It’s about a two kilometer walk through here to the Treasury.

Along the way through the gorge are remains of cult niches, water channels and reliefs carved into the steep walls.

Among the more famous are the Camel Caravan and the Sabinos Alexandros Station (2nd/3rd century AD after the end of the Nabataean kingdom).  Donors sent delegates to a festival held in Petra every four years highlighting sports/musical competitions.

Along the Siq, the steep walls form beautiful patterns. Water channels for drinking water and pipes were built along both sides of the Siq. The road was paved with sidewalks along side.

The narrow passage finally provides a sneak preview in dramatic fashion  of The Treasury (Al-Khazneh). The temple is believed to have been chiselled out of a sandstone rock face from top downward.

There are many legends as to why the structure was called Al-Khazneh (the Treasury in Arabic) but all have the common thread of having been a safe haven to hide treasure or loot!

We journey on: The passageway broadens and we pass older tombs of various sizes along this Road of Facades. We reach the Theatre which had a capacity of up to 10,000 spectators.

On the more commercial side, we enter an area with shops. In one there is brisk trade particularly in the purchase of traditional eyeliner – used by men as well as women. It is applied along the bottom eyelid and then the top eyelid pressed down to achieve ‘the look’.

Frankincense or Myrrh anyone? Also specialty oils, incenses as well as many spices are available in person or on line from Petra Rosemary.

The journey from the Treasury to the Monastery requires climbing 850 steps surrounded by 70 plus high walls. It’s a great workout and well worth the effort. Of course donkeys are an alternative.

We trek onwards (upwards) watching our step and dodging donkeys.

And finally:

Ad Deir (the Monastry) – carved out of a mountain crest on a high plateau, it is one of the largest facades in Petra and dates to the first century. It’s Christian use during Byzantine times is reflected in its name.

Overlooking the centre of Petra we see the large mausoleums known as the Royal Tombs carved in the rose-red sandstone at the base of Mount el-Khubtha:

Petra Great Temple: An ongoing reconstruction by Brown University is in progress of this huge complex near the Royal Tombs. It is the largest freestanding building discovered (1993) to date:

Petra was a travel highlight in 2022. Jordan generally and Petra specifically are a magnet for further exploration.