Interesting Facts About Petra, Jordan
How many of these facts about Petra do you already know?
Petra is one of the oldest cities in the world Petra was founded in the year 312BC as the capital of the Nabatean Empire. This makes it over 2300 years old, one of the oldest cities in the world. It’s one of the New Seven Wonders of the World Petra was named a New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, and fully deserves its place on this prestigious list. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site The Petra Archaeological Park is one of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Jordan, and the most famous tourist attraction in the country. The name ‘Petra’ means ‘rocks’ Appropriately, for a city hewn from stone, the name Petra is thought to come from the Greek word ‘Petros’, meaning rock, and was named by Greek visitors for its distinctive carved sandstone. The original inhabitants had a different name for it According to the ancient historian Josephus, Petra was actually known by a different name. Inscriptions carved into the walls of the city suggest that it was known as Raqemo, after its royal founder. Petra is a royal resting place Petra is packed with intricately sculpted tombs, such as the iconic Urn Tomb, many of them carved into the façade of the mountains that overlook the rest of the city. These spectacular monuments are thought to have been the resting place of Nabatean royalty, and were carved between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD. They stand as an enduring testimony to the wealth and importance of the royal family and Nabatean elites. Petra has more tombs than the Valley of the Kings in Luxor The Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt, is arguably one of the most famous ancient sites in the world, known for its fascinating set of 63 carved tombs and mausoleums. However, Petra has one of the largest royal tomb complexes in the world, with approximately 1,000 individual tombs identified to date. Even the treasury, one of the most photographed sites in the whole complex, is a mausoleum! It’s an open air movie set Many blockbuster films have been shot in Petra. Filmmakers love its unique and dramatic scenery. Most famously, Petra doubled as the Canyon of the Crescent Moon in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but it’s also been used in the live-action Disney remake of Aladdin. Only around 15% of the city has actually been excavated Petra’s ruins are immense, by any standards, but incredibly, around 85% of the site has yet to be uncovered. There are many more secrets hiding under the ground that may provide clues about Petra’s earliest origins, and the later Greek and Byzantine periods in its history. Petra is steeped in Biblical legend Petra’s legendary origins go back a long way, even as far back as Biblical times! The valley in which the city is found is known as Wadi Musa (Moses Valley), because of a legendary connection to the Biblical prophet. It is said that Moses struck the rock at Petra and water miraculously spouted from the ground, providing a drink for the thirsty Israelites. It was rediscovered by a Swiss traveller in disguise For many years Petra remained a closely guarded secret, known to local Bedouin communities, but a mystery for European scholars. In 1812, a Swiss traveller and explorer named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt disguised himself as a Bedouin and discovered the site during an expedition in the Transjordan. He identified it as the lost city of Petra, and sparked a flurry of archaeological excavations. It’s often called the ‘Rose City’ Petra’s beautiful sandstone is an incredible colour, earning it the nickname ‘the Rose City’. One of the most magical times to visit is around sunset when the last rays of the sun cast an incredible pink hue on the rocks. Petra is (almost) impossible to conquer Petra’s success as a city may have been down to its incredible natural defences. The site is accessed to the east by a narrow, winding gorge known as al-Siq, stretching for over 1km, which would have made it very difficult for hostile forces to get in without being stopped. This seems to have been the key to its success for so many centuries. A third of the city was destroyed by earthquakes in 363 AD Petra may be a formidable fortress city, but its natural defences didn’t stop it from being affected by natural disasters. In 363 AD a devastating earthquake struck the city, destroying an estimated third of the site. The city aligns with the sun The ancient Nabateans who created Petra held a particular reverence for the sun, which they viewed as a source of life, light and mystery. As a result, much of Petra’s beautiful architecture is actually aligned with solar patterns, with particular emphasis on the summer and winter solstices. The descendants of the Nabateans still live in the area The B’doul Bedouin tribe and many of its members live and work in the ancient city, acting today as tour guides to pass on the secrets of their clever ancestors to modern visitors. Petra was once famous for its gardens It’s difficult to imagine Petra as a lush paradise. However, recent excavations have discovered that a complex irrigation system provided water to the city’s thirsty inhabitants, as well as fuelling a spectacular complex of gardens and fountains. These monumental gardens made Petra a true oasis in the desert. The people of the city even had their own swimming pool! It was the centre of the ancient spice trade Petra’s rise to prominence in the ancient world was due in part to its important role as a hub on the Middle Eastern spice trade. Incense from Arabia, silks from China, and spices from India all passed through this beautiful rock city on their way to destinations across Africa, the Middle East and Western Europe. I hope these fascinating facts about Petra have given you plenty of inspiration for your next expedition to the Middle East! A visit to Petra is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the sight of this stunning red city will live with you forever.