Petra: The Lost City Carved Into Sandstone
Wikimedia CommonsThe “Street of Facades” at Petra.
Petra, the massive city carved directly into sandstone cliff faces in southwestern Jordan, was once the capital of the Nabataean empire. Archaeological evidence suggests the Nabataeans inhabited Petra as far back as at least 312 B.C.E., and at its height between 400 B.C.E. and 106 C.E., the city was a thriving trading center and cultural hub.
The Nabataeans were masterful builders and hydraulic engineers who transformed this desert location into a prosperous metropolis. They carved elaborate temples, tombs, and monuments directly into the rose-colored sandstone cliffs, creating architectural marvels that still captivate visitors today.
The city’s strategic position along ancient trade routes connecting Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean made it a crucial commercial crossroads where frankincense, myrrh, spices, and other valuable goods exchanged hands.
The Nabataean empire fell to the Romans in 106 C.E., and as they were absorbed into the Roman Empire, Petra became unimportant. The sprawling Roman Empire had plenty of trading hubs of its own, and as people left Petra behind, it slowly fell into decay. Earthquakes in the region caused further damage to the cliff-embedded city, and over time, the world gradually seemed to forget about Petra altogether.
Wikimedia CommonsThe Great Temple of Petra.
It wasn’t until the early 1800s that Petra became known to the Western world at large, when a European traveler disguised himself in Bedouin costume and paid a visit to the ancient site. This explorer was Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who rediscovered Petra for Western audiences in 1812. Local Bedouin communities had never truly forgotten the site, continuing to inhabit the area and maintain knowledge of its existence.
Today, Petra stands as Jordan’s most valuable archaeological treasure and tourist attraction. In 1985, the Petra Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it was named a new wonder of the world in 2007.
