Royal tombs of Petra

Petra was the capital of the Nabataeans ٱلْأَنْبَاط. The origin of the Nabataeans is not clear. Most academics agree that they came from Northern Arabia as normadic Arabs. The Nabataeans first came into prominence during the Hellenistic Age (323 BC - 31 BC).

Petra was rediscovered in 1812 by Johannes L. Burckhardt. It is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and stunning rock-cut facades. Petra's buildings were further expanded and transformed during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

The Palace tomb was named based on its appearance today, rather than historical evidence for its use by royalty or occupation as a palace. The facade of the Palace Tomb has three orders, the highest of which reaches beyond the face of the cliff.

One of the largest monuments of Petra, the doors lead to four interior chambers. The two central ones are connected by a narrow passage. The Palace Tomb is considered to be one of the finest of the rock-carved monuments of Petra.

The Corinthian tomb was named by Leon de Laborde (1828), an early explorer. The upper order, with its central tholos and broken pediment, is similar to both the Treasury and the Monastery. In the lower order, windows of different sizes to the right, doors to the left. The main doorway is largely destroyed.

The Silk tomb is named after the beautiful, multicolored striations on its facade. There is a separate entrance for each of its two stories.

The Urn tomb is named after a stone urn that is carved on top of its pediment. There is a large courtyard in front of it, where you can get a great view of the city. The courtyard is supported by two levels of tall archway arcades.

According to a Greek inscription found inside the ground-floor chamber, the tomb was converted into a Byzantine church in 446-447 AD. In the chamber, you can see holes in the floor and walls. They were to anchor or hang church furnishings such as lamps and tapestries.

Petra ٱلْبَتْرَاء, meaning "rock," is the Greek denomination of the ancient capital of the Nabataeans, which they themselves called Raqmu.

The theater in Petra was built in the 1st century AD. It is quite large, with a seating capacity of over 6,000 people. Thousands of people used to gather here to attend cultic or cultural performances.

The name Qasr al-Bint Far'un (Castle of the Pharaoh's Daughter) was given to it by the Bedouin and relates to a local legend. There is no inscription or any other clear evidence of which deity the religious temple was built for. It was most likely for the main Nabataean god, Dushara.

Despite its name, it is not certain that the Great Temple was actually a temple, even though an altar was excavated in 2000 from the lower terrace. The Great Temple is situated in the city center, east of Qasr al-Bint.

The Great Temple was severely damaged by unspecified causes around 300 AD. Further still, the Temple collapsed in the earthquake of 363 AD.

The Treasury and the Monastery are the two buildings that are promoted the most when visiting Petra. There is so much more to Petra. It offers a fascinating glimpse into this ancient people and culture. Epic landscapes that you can view along the many trails in the surrounding area.

Petra is more than a day stop that a lot of tourists make. I recommend you should try to plan for at least three days to experience Petra at a leisurely pace.