Petra Ancient Ruins

Petra Ancient Ruins

 

Visit the ancient ruins of Petra

 

Petra, which lies south of Jordan’s capital Amman on the edge of the mountain clad desert of Wadi Araba, was at the crossroads of the main trade routes used by caravans and merchants for many centuries. These trade routes were used to transport high-value resources and rare spices between the Mediterranean and the Near East, Africa and even India.

 

History

 

The ancient rock city of Petra is thought to have been first established around the 6th century B.C, by a nomadic Arab tribe known as the Nabataeans. The Nabataean tribe were considered to be a Semitic group of people who laid the foundations for a commercial empire that later extended into what is today known as Syria. This article will inform you more about Petra ancient ruins.

 

The Majestic Ruins

 

The ruins of Petra are mainly known for its three large structures thatwere carved into the rock face, officially known as the King's Wall.

 

The first, is the Urn Tomb, which is a preserved monument that faces an open terrace and is covered by a row of double vaults.

Next is the Corinthian Tomb, which is a smaller version of the Khazneh and is followed by the Palace Tomb that was named so because of the glimmering effect of the rock it was cut out of.

 

A bit further away from the Royal Tombs, lies a tomb that was built in 130 A.D., for the Roman governor who ruled during Petra’s annexation. The Treasury of the Pharaoh is Petra’s most imposing façade asit standsmore than 40 meters tall and was cut directly from the rock of the mountainside.

 

 

Support Structures

 

The Siq, is a name given to a gorge that was formed by the torrent of the river Musa.This gorge was subsequently blocked by the Nabataeansusing a dam, and channeled it to carry precious drinking water to the city.There is a series of inscriptions that can be foundalong the rock walls of the Siq.

 

Decline and Ruin

 

The numerous natural calamities that constantly hit Petra, including earthquakes and flash floods, eventually triggered the slow decline of city and eventually led to its abandonment. The city then remained forgotten for over 5 centuries and was known only to natives. It was not until the early 1800s that western explorers would rediscover Petra, which has today become one of the worlds most famous and regularly visited ancient sites. It is claimed that barely 5 percent of the city has been unearthed, with many more mysteries yet to be revealed.