History of The Ancient City of Petra

History of The Ancient City of Petra

The Greek word “Petra” means “rock”. Hence the city of Petra is synonymous with its name. This ancient city was carved out of stone. The city of Petra is situated in the south of the Jordanian capital, Amman. The Petra history starts a few centuries prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. The city was founded by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab tribe. Apart from stone-carving, the Nabataeans had outstanding skill in agriculture, engineering and trade. Presently, the archaeologists are in the process of bringing to light various facts about the ancient Petra history. They could collect various interesting objects that reveal various Petra history facts that were hidden so far. The Nabataeans demonstrated their architectural skills by erecting numerous monuments in the memory of their kings and other eminent persons. These awesome, monumental tombs were made by carving the stones of the cliffs that surround the city. The Petra history of 2000 years back says that camel caravans carrying loads of spices, textiles and incense from different places used to pass through Petra thereby facilitating the flourishing of trade and commerce in this place. History Petra is in fact closely associated with the history of the Nabataeans – a highly civilized nomadic tribe.    

 

Petra at its heights
 
 

From the chapters of Petra history, we come to know that around AD 50 the city of Petra was having its golden days. Right from the first century BC up to the first century AD, Petra was one of the international centers of commerce and culture. The Nabataean traders were selling luxury goods such as perfumes, spice and textiles to Rome, Egypt and Greece. Though it was a desert the Nabataeans succeeded in harnessing water and suddenly the population in Petra rose to 20000. The awe-inspiring temples, about 3000 stone-carved tombs, the banquet halls, altars and dwellings demonstrate the engineering, architecture, technology and artistry of the Nabataeans. They made all the structures appear spectacular by adorning them with bright paints and covering with stucco. The most exciting part of Petra history is the technological development brought by the Nabataeans facilitating the booming of the population. They developed the technology to provide irrigation to crops and gardens by harnessing the natural springs. In that desert land they had a technologically efficient system of pools and reservoirs. The history Petra city is the history of the Nabataeans who developed the city and made it the thriving capital of Nabataea. The Nabataeans were highly powerful as well as rich. They took pride in the development of Petra and they considered the city of Petra as their crown jewel. During the first century BC these desert traders had the control of the incense and spice trade all over the Arabian Peninsula. The origin of these migrants as well as and the reason for their migration to Petra is still a mystery.

 

The people who lived in Petra

The city of Petra was the home for about 20000 people. According to Petra history facts, they included Nabataeans, Romans and businessmen from various other parts of the ancient world. The recent archaeological researches reveal that the business community in Petra was leading luxurious lives. The potteries that they used were very costly and they had bronze lamps that were lit in the evenings. However, the picture of the day-to-day life of the non-elite, who lived in houses made of mud bricks and who used a cheap variety of pottery is still not clear.

 

The archaeological findings about Petra history reveal that Petra was a conglomeration of various religious traditions of nearby regions – Arabia, Egypt, Edom and Syria. However, all the traditions had the influence of Greek culture. In all the traditions they worshipped two deities – the god and the goddess. According to ancient Petra history the god and goddess were known as Dushara and al – ‘Uzza. Dushara was considered as the supreme god of the universe equivalent to Zeus, the Greek god. Al – ‘Uzza was considered equal to the Greco-Roman deity Venus – the goddess of prosperity and fertility. The stone-carved shrines and the niches inscribed inside reveal the Petra history facts about individual as well as family worship. Communal feasts, various religious festivals and memorial service for the deceased were parts of the Nabataean worship and the banquet rooms were used for all these purposes.   

 

Annexation to Rome

AD 106 is highly significant in the Petra history timeline. The Roman Emperor Trajan invaded Nabataea and named it as Arabia Petraea. The annexation was carried out as part of the eastward expansion of the Roman Empire. It was a peaceful annexation with no bloodshed and the life of the Nabataeans went as usual. Since the security was provided by the mighty Roman Empire, the trade routes became safer. For the next three centuries Petra history was a chapter of history of Rome.

 

Petra and Earthquakes

The Petra history will be incomplete if it does not include the devastating earthquakes experienced by this city. The proximity of Petra to the Arabian plate made it an earthquake prone region. On May 19, AD 363, Petra had the most devastating earthquake in which almost half of the city was destroyed. The water supply system was also affected by this earthquake. Since Petra was economically powerful, it could have withstood the natural calamity, but, the sudden changes in the trade routes had a negative impact on Petra and by the end of AD 363 Petra had lost all its glory.

Christianity in Petra

The Petra history timeline shows that Christianity had its roots in Petra by AD 330. This was about 200 years after the invasion of Petra by the Roman Emperor. By AD 350 Petra had its own bishop and within the next 100 years large Christian churches were built in Petra. However, Petra history after AD 350 is about the decline of the once prosperous city. The loss of its power in commerce and trade affected the economy and the devastating earthquake of AD 363 marked the beginning of Petra’s decline. The Muslim population from southern Arabia that migrated to Petra also started vacating Petra. Petra history facts during AD 700 speak about a very thin population in Petra city that was once home for more than 20000 people. One could find more sheep and goats through the once busy streets of Petra and very few people.

 

 

Rebuilding of Petra

Archaeologists, scientists and engineers from various parts of the world are today involved in the task of rebuilding Petra. So far, they could unearth only one - twentieth of the ancient city. Hence a lot remains unknown about ancient Petra history. However, we can say that in today’s world Petra exists. The number of visitors to Petra increases every year. As a result of the ongoing excavations and researches, we can come to know more exciting facts of Petra history.

 

Although it is known by the locals out of the ancient city back on the scene took place in 1812. Swiss adventurer Johann Burckhardt fluent in Arabic and Muslim image and a researcher who visits the Middle East. From Damascus to Cairo and the desert while traveling on the road a little-known Sharra Mountains bedevilerinden seen any Europeans listened to stories about the presence of a magnificent ancient city. The story was not very easy to reach the ancient city. Because the ancient city was not very easy to go as a stranger. Local people around the ancient city of Moses's brother Aaron believed that the grave. Room use this information to his brother Aaron, Moses said you wanted to dedicate the grave sacrifice. Bedouins hired from the local community and the victim to perform this event to hit the road together. Later in the Bedouin and the guidance of indigenous groups in a narrow valley for a long time the world's New Seven Wonders of the adventurer Johann Burckhardt'ın ancient city of Petra is considered among the "re-discover" provided.