City of stone in Jordan. Petra - the mysterious city in the rock

Couldn't they travel [study the history of past centuries and millennia, and then visit the preserved monuments, the capitals of states and civilizations that once prospered and crush any enemy], while having understanding hearts and hearing ears?!

It is not people's eyes that go blind, but the hearts that are in their chests [they do not heed the lessons of the past in the present, do not try to understand them. Their whole life is a run from nowhere to nowhere along the narrow path of stereotypes and personal interpretations, subjective conclusions].*

Holy Quran 22:46

Impressed?

Then let's open the cards a little.

So, Petra (Arabic البتراء‎‎) - ancient city, capital Idumea (Edoma), later the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. It is located on the territory of modern Jordan, at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level and 660 m above the surrounding area, the Arava Valley, in the narrow Siq Canyon.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan or Jordan — Arab state in the Middle East. It borders with Syria in the north, Iraq in the northeast, Saudi Arabia- in the east and south, with Israel and Palestine - in the west. Jordan shares with Israel and Palestine the coastlines of the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba with Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

About 90% of the territory of the kingdom is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts.

The most famous landmark in Jordan is , the city we are interested in Petra , located 262 kilometers south of Amman, and 133 kilometers north of Aqaba in the Wadi Musa valley.

The ancient city is the property of the Bedouins, who are engaged in the manufacture and sale of souvenirs on the territory of the museum, as well as offering a ride on horses or camels. In place of the current Petra was the first fortified settlement to be named " village" — "stone, rock". Later this name was translated into Greek - Petra ("stone").

Petra - the capital of the Nabatean kingdom and one of the most beautiful and well-preserved ancient cities. Petra is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the new wonders of the world. In ancient times, Petra was on the trade route connecting the Middle East, Arabia and India.

Historians believe that the city was built by the Nabataeans - Arab tribes of nomads who settled on these lands in the 3rd millennium BC. Appearance Petra owes much to Greco-Roman culture, which the Nabataeans adapted to suit their needs. Starting with a few easily defended caves in the rocks, Petra gradually turned into an impregnable walled city. The lands of the former Nabatean kingdom and Petra were completely forgotten in the West.

The Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt was the first European to see and describe Petra in 1812.

The very location of Petra is amazing, namely the mountains, which, depending on the time of day, change their color from dark red to pink and even orange.

It is not so easy to get to the ancient city, you will have to overcome several kilometers on foot: first go down, and back up through Siq Gorge. From the east and west, the cliffs break off vertically, forming natural walls up to 80 m in height.

Here is a description of this path, made in the 70s: “The path to the city lies through this passage. Its length is about 1.2 km, and its width is from 4 to 10 meters or more. The spectacle is truly unforgettable: reddish and brownish cliffs up to 80 m high hang from both sides; a strip of sky turns blue above, coarse gravel and sand rustle underfoot, it smells of dampness and mold. The Romans failed to take Petra for several years; its inhabitants, blocking the only narrow passage leading to the walled city, could hold back an entire army with small forces ...

Walking down the aisle- both to the right and to the left above the head are such cut, gnawed red stones. During the rainy season, this gorge turns into a swift turbulent stream. The road is adorned with the remains of an ancient pavement and rock carvings, and along the edges, like a railing, a water trough winds, delivering water to Petra.

The beginning of the gorge, through which you can get to Petra itself

Already approaching the exit from the gorge, we freeze in amazement: through the hole in the dark corridor, about fifty meters from its end, a pink building with columns and an elegant pediment illuminated by the sun is clearly visible. A few more minutes of patience and before us is one of the monumental tombs of Petra ... What is most striking is that it is a solid stone massif without any additions.

Opens around the corner El Khazneh — majestic building with a facade carved from a huge rock. This is one of the best preserved buildings of the first century. The building is crowned with a huge stone urn, which allegedly kept gold and gems, - hence the name of the temple (translated from Arabic "treasury").

The interior of one of the "rooms" of El Khazneh.

Here it is very clearly seen that all this was carved in a solid stone massif.

Rounding the rock and the palace of Al-Khazneh, you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of buildings carved into the rocks, temples, tombs, small and large residential buildings, tombs and festive halls, long stairs, arches and cobbled streets. A little lower, a huge Roman amphitheater carved out of stone, which once accommodated more than 4 thousand spectators.

High up in the mountains above the city sacred place worship of the gods, from where a stunning panorama of Petra opens - an amphitheater, a Byzantine church and the tombs of kings, Roman colonnades, the mausoleum of Aaron, and main temple Nabataeans - Kazr al-Bint.

Here is a list of the most interesting of them: El-Khazneh ("Treasury", the tomb of one of the Nabatean kings), Ad-Deir ("Monastery"), Sakhrij ("Ginn blocks"), "Obelisk tomb", "Square of facades", sacred mountain Jebel al-Madbah ("Mountain of Sacrifice"), "Tombs of the Kings", Mugar An-Nasara ("Christian Caves"), Theatre, Byzantine church behind the ruins of the Nymphaeum, Al-Uzza Atargatis ("Temple of the Winged Lions"), Qasr Al- Bint ("Palace of the daughter of the pharaoh", although the pharaohs, of course, do not have any slightest relation), and etc.

There are two archaeological museums in the city: the old one (in the mountain of Jabal Al-Habis) and the new one, which have excellent collections, as well as many monuments identified with biblical chronicles - the Wadi Musa valley itself ("Valley of Moses"), Mount Jabal Haroun (Mount Aaron , on which, according to legend, the high priest Aaron died), the source of Ain Musa ("Source of Moses"), etc.

Petra was called the "robber's nest", "bloody stones", "cursed place", "city of evil spirits", "ghost city", "city of bloody altars", "city of the dead".

The territory of Petra is large area. From the center, where the ruins of numerous buildings are well preserved, no longer rocky, but built traditional way, made of stone, it extends for several kilometers.

The main street, stretching from east to west across the city, was laid during the Roman rule. On both sides of it stretches a majestic colonnade. The western end of the street ran into a large temple, while the eastern end ended in a three-span triumphal arch.

Ad-Deir is a monastery carved into the rock at the top of a cliff - a huge building about 50 m wide and more than 45 m high. Judging by the crosses carved on the walls, the temple served as a Christian church for some time.

Later, after the researchers dug out the space under the monastery, they discovered the tomb of one of the Nabatean kings.

Here is a very informative video - the program of the National Geographic channel:

The remains of this cities of the dead are a lesson to us who live after them. In the sacredIn the Koran, the Almighty in several verses tells us about the destroyed peoples and villages:

How many settlements We destroyed together with their sinful, godless inhabitants: [old] houses collapsed and became empty, wells [water supply systems] became useless and fell into disrepair, and [strong] built [with the latest science and technology] palaces [ if they remained standing, they were empty and deserted].*

Holy Quran, 22:45

Each of the human communities has its own term [nothing lasts forever in this world, everything (people, peoples, cities, states, eras, civilizations) has an earthly beginning and end]. If it comes, then nothing can be changed (it is impossible to delay or accelerate it). *

Holy Quran, 7:34

Didn't you see what your Lord did to the Adites?! [With their tribe] Iram, who had [majestic] buildings based on columns. Until that moment, there were no others like them [powerful and strong, smart].

Holy Quran 89:6-8

Do they not see [do not know] how many civilizations were destroyed by Us earlier! Indeed, they will not return to them [to those who currently exist]!*

Holy Quran 36:31

In conclusion, I will quote the words of a Muslim scholar-sage who was asked:

“Why do we hear edifications, instructions, but we cannot benefit from them, they are not reflected in our lives?

The sage replied: “For five reasons:

First: Allah has endowed you with many bounties, bestowed on you an uncountable number of blessings, but you have lost the feeling of gratitude before Him

Second: having committed a sin, you stopped feeling fear of God's wrath, you stopped asking for mercy with deeds and words

Third: you don't follow what you know.

Fourth: there are righteous, well-behaved people in your environment, but you don’t even think of being equal to them.

And the last: you bury the dead, see off many of your relatives and friends to another world, but you cannot learn from this instructive lesson "

As-Samarkandi N. Tanbih al-gafilin.S.292

O Allah, fill our hearts with timidity before Your majesty and might. Awaken in us this feeling, which will manifest itself in our tears, which will be filled in the future life with heavenly sources in the highest degrees of Firdavs! Amine.

Radia Zavdetovna,

Mahalla №1

*With comments by Sh. Alyautdinov

When writing the article, materials were used:

Wikipedia

Sh. Alyautdinov “The Holy Quran. Meanings»

I. Alyautdinov “Know. Believe. Honor"

Firstly, Petra is still only 15% studied. Secondly, and this small part - continuous riddles. And thirdly - pink city Petra, a fantastic joint creation of nature and human hands. Much more like the scenery for a grandiose fairy tale performance, or like an abandoned capital alien civilization than normal ancient ruins.

Petra Lost and Found.

Throughout its long history Petra in Jordan changed several owners. It began as the capital of Idumea. Then it was absorbed by the Nabataean kingdom, under it it experienced an unprecedented flourishing. There is a legend that the Siq gorge, leading to Petra through the rocks, is a trace of the impact of the staff of Moses. That is why it is winding - the staff was crooked. Another legend exposes the Nabataeans as very cruel people. Allegedly, they did not let the Jews into their city, which did not lack water, whom Moses led through the desert. The Nabataeans really could not stand the Jews. Sometimes they ransomed them from captivity in order to personally mock them.

The Diadochi, the heirs of the empire of Alexander the Great, argued for Nabatea. But she managed to maintain her independence - until 105 AD, when the Roman emperor-warrior Mark Ulpius Trajan came here. It was useless to argue with Rome about independence, and Nabatea became Arabia of Petraea.

In the XII century the crusaders visited here. And after the 16th century, the city of Petra seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth, it was abandoned and unknown to anyone.

In 1812, a certain sheikh-theologian Ibrahim ibn Abdullah traveled around the Middle East. At first he studied Sharia in Syrian Aleppo, and then went on a journey. Thanks to him, the Europeans learned where the city of Petra is located.

The real name of the "Arab theologian" was Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. He was a passionate scientist-researcher and a desperate adventurer. Its history is similar to that of Columbus. Both were looking for one thing, but found another, and this "other" glorified their names. Burckhardt was looking for the sources of the Niger River, this was the main goal of his dangerous journey in the Muslim East. To do this, he learned Arabic and converted to Islam! But he was so lucky - to find a forgotten passage between the rocks of the Arava plain.

On the way to the city of Petra.

At the entrance to the gorge Sik ("Mine") - mysterious stone cubes. One of which is allegedly dotted with bird tracks - the remains of the Nabatean ornament. Cubes are considered tombs. They are also called "genie gravestones".

Further along the main path there will be a strange, as if two-story building. The upper floor is adorned with pyramidal obelisks and seems older than the lower one. For on the lower one you can see quite classical columns and niches for statues, stone beds on three sides, as in the Roman triclinium. This is a monument of the 1st century. AD - the time of the reign of the last kings of Nabatea, two tombs built one above the other.

The fantastic Siq Gorge is winding and compressed by reddish-brown folded rocks. So, in some places its width is only 2 m. It has preserved the remains of ancient Nabataean water pipes: dams, canals carved into the rocks, and even ceramic pipes.

The Nabatean population knew the value of water in the desert, and during seasonal downpours they skillfully collected and preserved it. And even traded it.

Petra and her "fabulous" stonemasons.

The brightest (and biggest!) Petra attractions in Jordan are Al Khazneh and Ad Deir.

El Khazne - she is the Treasury, ancient temple in the rock. Ad-Deir - still bewilder researchers: it is difficult to imagine how they were built.

The colossal Al Khazneh and the 45-meter facade of Ad-Deira are not just roughly cut in stone - they are carved with great skill. But how?

How did these ancient masons work? Having neither the tools of modern builders, nor, most importantly, scaffolding? In the Arava Valley, there is nothing to build the simplest wooden scaffolding from. There are no trees! What did these Nabataean builders hold on to, how did they strengthen themselves on the rock during their work?

If you even imagine that some kind of cunning system of rope and belt fastenings was used, then it becomes clear why Petra became a great city. Even the craftsmen-builders in it were very brave people. The builders knew how to work, hanging at such a height above the dangerous stone surface, when a fall in the happiest case could end in injury.

However, most of researchers believe that during the construction of El Khazne, a significant part of the builders could be foreigners. Both architecture and decoration are a bizarre mixture of various stylistic elements.

• The large obelisks are clearly created by the Egyptians or under strong Egyptian influence.
• Statue of a goddess (presumably Isis or Tihe). Very Alexandrian.
• And the origin of the columns is beyond doubt - the capitals. Finished with flexibly curved branches and leaves, even a schoolboy will recognize how the Corinthian columns belong.
• The facade of the building is decorated with figures of winged sphinxes (Egypt again!), a lion (Isis? Cybele?). Serpents - who just did not depict these in ancient times! And dancing maidens like Amazons.

Curiously, El Khazne was nicknamed the Treasury from its 4-meter height by the urn above the portico. In which the treasury of the pharaohs was allegedly kept (yes, the word "treasury" comes from "khazneh"). But there is also an urn above the facade of the "monastery" Ad Deir, and its height is as much as 10 m.

Until now, it has not been established for what purposes the building, now bearing the name of Ad Deir, the largest building in the city of Petra, was used. Temple? But what kind of deity, if there are no signs of deity worship here - no altar, no statues. The tomb of one of the last kings of Nabatea? It seems that the king was the spiritual heir of the Egyptian pharaohs. They also tried to build themselves tombs even more than the pyramids of those who ruled before them.

But the “monastery” Ad Deir is nicknamed for the numerous crosses carved on the back wall. Maybe the first Christians, persecuted for their faith, once hid here.

Other ancient "pearls" of Petra.

If you are planning to hire an Arab guide and wander around Petra on your own. Buy a map and plan your route in advance to see what is interesting for you.

Interesting sights of the city:

• Theater. It is located 300 m to the left of the exit from the Siq to Petra. Theater built in the 1st century AD. during the reign of King Aretas IV, similar to Greek and Roman theaters. 40 rows of sloping seats carved into stone. It accommodated from 6,000 to 8,000 thousand spectators. One can only guess what kind of spectacles the Nabatean king enjoyed here.
• Palace of the Maiden, aka Qasr Al-Bint. Erected in the 1st century. BC. like a sanctuary. who lived with him royal daughter allegedly suffered from a lack of water and declared that she would connect her life only with those who could bring precious moisture to her dwelling. No matter what, a modern, practical girl who does not want to marry someone who “doesn’t know how to fix a tap”! Judging by the channels and drains found during the excavations of Qasr al-Bint, the royal daughter still waited for her “plumber”.
• High altar. 200 m from El Khazneh there is a sign according to which you need to go. This attraction is for the stubborn and hardy. You will have to climb the rocky stairs to the altar, and this “procession” will take a little more than half an hour. You will feel like an ancient priest - they regularly overcame this climb. True, we still do not know to which deity and what sacrifices were made here.

Petra today: a city of tourists.

Sightseeing tours in Petra are always popular, despite the fact that traveling through the ancient city requires a fair amount of stamina. Good shoes, availability sunscreen, headdress and bottles of water.

The cost of rooms in the hotels of Wadi Musa depends on the "star". You can find a place for 15 JD per night. You can stay at a hotel where an overnight stay will cost 80 JOD and more.

The approximate price of an excursion to Petra, Jordan is $60-200. This private tour with a guide for a group of 6 people, duration from 6 to 9 hours.

The city of Petra is a world cultural heritage, so no car trips within it. locals they offer horse-drawn transport (carts), and for climbing mountains - camels and donkeys. Do not overpay locals more than 10 JOD. They like to bargain with naive tourists.

Overnight in Petra.

There is an opportunity to visit amazing city Petra at night. From 20.30 to 22.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

You will see Petra lit by many candles, hear the music of the Bedouins, sit on a rug inside El Khazneh and drink fragrant local tea. You can imagine at that time the expression on the face of one of the Nabatean kings, who saw some nomads sitting in his treasury.

Petra in miniature.

You can climb to Little Petra along a concrete road from the Arab village of Wadi Musa. Somewhere after 2 km along the road there will be the ruins of the main castle of the Crusaders of Petra, Al-Vuaira. The soldiers of Christ themselves called him in French - Le Vaux Moise. Translated - Moses Valley. That's what it's called now, but in Arabic it's a village near Petra.

In Malaya Petra, you can also see the remains of the Nabatean water pipeline, as well as explore the system of paths and stairs connecting three gorges.

Jordan. Petra - ancient capital Nabataean kingdom, carved right into the rocks more than 2 thousand years ago. Thanks to its rich history, bewitching, almost mystical beauty and excellent preservation of monuments at the end of the last century, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2007 was elected one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Once prosperous and luxurious, after the conquest of the Middle East by Saladin in the 12th century, Petra was abandoned, and the memory of her in the West was erased. The dilapidated city remained a hidden gem until 1812, when the Swiss explorer Broekhardt found himself here. His stories inspired many other travelers, but serious excavations in Petra did not begin until 1929. Steven Spielberg played an important role in popularizing the city as a world tourism destination with his "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade": the film showed Petra on wide screens in 1989 G.

How to get to Petra

Petra is 3 hours drive from Amman if you drive along the modern "Desert Highway", or 5 hours if you follow the picturesque "Royal Road".

By bus

Jett organizes daily flights Amman - Petra from Abdali bus station. Departure - at 6:30, travel time - about 3.5 hours, ticket price - 18 JOD one way. return bus departs from Petra at 17:00. Prices on the page are for November 2018.

If you are vacationing in one of Jordan's neighboring countries, you also have a chance to visit Petra. Numerous travel companies organize day trips from Eilat, Taba, Sharm el-Sheikh and other resorts of the Sinai Peninsula.

By minibus

A minibus ride from Wadi Rum takes about 1.5 hours and costs 8 JOD. The minibus usually leaves at 8:30, but the schedule is subject to change on any day. Therefore, you need to agree in advance: ask the hotel employee to contact the minibus driver and clarify the time and place of departure.

Shuttle buses from Amman depart from the Wihdat bus station. On the road - about 3 hours, ticket price - 5 JOD. In some cases, the driver may ask you to pay separately for luggage.

By taxi

Taxis are more expensive, but much more comfortable. The trip from Amman to Petra and back will cost approximately 75-85 JOD including waiting for the driver. Travel from Aqaba - 55 JOD one way.

On the way from Petra to Aqaba, you can visit the Wadi Rum desert to enjoy unique landscapes like nowhere else on the planet. And the village of Dana on the top of the mountain resembles a bird's nest.

You should always agree on the cost of the trip in advance, if you wish, you can save a lot: bargain with the driver or find fellow travelers and share all the expenses with them.

Transport

The only vehicles allowed in Petra are horses, donkeys, camels and horse-drawn carts. The choice of means of transportation depends on which section of the path you are overcoming. From the entrance to the city, the Siq Gorge can be reached either on foot (in just 15 minutes), or on a horse or a light horse-drawn carriage. The cost of travel depends only on your ability to bargain. Local grooms often claim that the trip is free, but at the end of the journey you will most likely be in for an unpleasant surprise: you will have to pay generous tips to the drovers (up to 20 JOD per person). Do not believe promises and clearly stipulate the price in advance.

Previously, horses were treated so badly here that a veterinary clinic had to be opened near the entrance. Today, wounds are still visible on the bodies of many animals, and horses harnessed to wagons are forced to gallop even in unbearable heat. Therefore, caring tourists often prefer to spare the animals and overcome the first section of the path on foot.

Once at the Treasury, get ready for a decisive onslaught of numerous owners of camels and donkeys, vying with each other offering their services to tourists. Feel free to bargain and in no case pay more than 10 JOD per trip. The optimal price is 3 JOD per person.

Sometimes drovers cut the price by almost half, just by hearing at least a couple of phrases in Arabic.

Camels are perhaps the only animals in Petra that are respected by their owners, which means that they are kept in relatively good condition. The reason for this is their high cost and obstinate character. Camels are less docile than donkeys or horses, but riding them is one of the most memorable local pastimes.

To move around mountain slopes it is better to choose donkeys: it is on them that it is most convenient to get to the High Place or the monastery of Ad-Dair. However, conservationists are unlikely to be satisfied with the trip: all the way, Bedouin teenagers drive the unfortunate animals with cruel blows with a long piece of electric wire. If patience is running out, shout "Bass!" (“Enough”): The hitting is likely to stop.

If you are in good physical shape, take a walk to the monastery. After 15:00, the path leading up is almost completely hidden in the shade, so the ascent at this time is as comfortable as possible.

Weather in Petra

Average monthly temperature, °C day and night

January

February

March

April

• June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  november

  December

Petra Hotels

For maximum safety of the city, all tourism infrastructure taken to the nearby town of Wadi Musa, which is just a few minutes walk from Petra. There are many hotels in the city different levels, including 4-5 "stars".

The cost of living in guest houses and small three-star hotels is from 15-20 JOD per night. Almost all rooms are equipped with modern furniture and a private bathroom, as well as free Wi-Fi.

It is best to go to Petra with an overnight stay: one day may not be enough for an inspection. Due to the constant influx of tourists, it is better to book a hotel in advance.

The most expensive hotel in the city is Movenpick Resort Petra, located just 50 meters from the main entrance to Petra. It offers several on-site restaurants, a fitness center and a rooftop garden, and room rates start at JOD 100 per night. best view the mountains opens from the windows family hotel Rocky Mountain (from 27 JOD per day).

What to bring

One of the most popular souvenirs is decorative bottles filled with colorful sand. You can find these at almost any resort. The difference between the local ones is that they are filled with natural (and not artificially colored) colored sand mined in the canyons of Petra. Inside, a camel is most often depicted against the background of the desert, but skilled artists can make any name out of grains of sand in just a couple of minutes. The cost of such souvenirs is 1-12 JOD depending on the size.

There are a lot of jewelery dealers in Petra: they walk literally everywhere and offer all kinds of rings, bracelets and necklaces. A fair price for most jewelry is 1-5 JOD, even if the seller stubbornly claims that they are made of pure silver.

What to try

There are food vending machines and small shops all over Petra where you can grab a quick bite and buy hot or cold drinks. By the way, it is better to stock up on drinks in advance: in hot summer days a traveler may need up to 4 liters of water. The cost of a 1.5 liter bottle is 1-1.50 JOD.

There are few restaurants on the territory of Petra, mainly they serve dishes of oriental, Mediterranean and international cuisine. The average score in Petra Magic or Silk Road is 18-36 JOD. In a more modest Sun City with an open terrace and hookahs, it is much cheaper: 4-18 JOD per person.

Much more cafes and restaurants in the nearby village of Wadi Musa. Be sure to try Arabic unleavened bread "hobz", bean paste "fuul" and the famous falafel - deep-fried bean balls.

For the most desperate gourmets - the Bedouin dish "mansaf": a lamb served whole (with a head) with a side dish of rice and nuts.

The best photos of Petra

Guides in Petra

Entertainment and attractions of Petra

Petra is not just a city, but a unique one archaeological park with many attractions, so at the entrance you will have to buy a ticket for 55 JOD (for 1 day) or for 60 JOD (for 2 days). An important nuance: tourists arriving in Jordan for just a day must pay almost twice as much for entry, 90 JOD. IN tourist center you can hire a guide (from 50 JOD), large hotels offer rental of a portable audio guide for 10 JOD per day. If you wish, you can download it to your mobile, but for this you will need to purchase a Jordanian SIM card.

The cost of the entrance ticket to Petra is 55 JOD.

The Petra Gate is a winding Siq, a sandstone canyon about 2 km long. scenic road decorate whimsical stone statues and carved rock bas-reliefs, on the sides you can see the remains of terracotta pipes used for water supply since the time of the ancient Romans.

At the exit of the gorge is the majestic palace of El-Khazneh (Treasury, or Treasury), 42 m high. It was carved into a solid rock in the 1st century, an urn was installed on its top, in which, according to legend, countless treasures were once kept. According to one version, they belonged Egyptian pharaoh, on the other - to the robbers who attacked the caravans. One way or another, traces of bullets are still visible on the urn: many wanted to test the theory.

The next stop is the Square of Facades, where one after another there are temples and tombs carved into the rocks. At the end of the street is the Roman amphitheater, which can accommodate about 7 thousand spectators. It was built by the Nabateans and later expanded by the Romans. Performances are held here today, but, of course, much less frequently than in ancient times.

Just a few minutes walk from the amphitheater (up the hill) are the Royal Tombs, impressive in their size. For whom they were intended - has not been clarified so far.

Another famous attraction of Petra is the monastery of Ad-Dair, a Nabataean rock temple built in the 1st century AD. e. To see this monumental building 45 meters high with your own eyes, you will have to overcome more than 800 steps. Hiking takes a little more than an hour, but you can also get there on a donkey (although this is not much faster and more convenient).

The building of Ad-Dair can be seen in the blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

There are more than 800 historical objects in Petra. Among them - high place with altars for sacrifices, Mount Jebel Haroun, Palace of the daughter of the pharaoh and others majestic monuments nature and architecture.

A special pleasure for tourists is a night visit to Petra. Tours run from 20:30 to 22:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. At night, Petra appears before travelers in the light of hundreds of candles, accompanied by traditional Bedouin music.

7 things to do in Petra

1. Climb 800 steps to Ad-Dair Temple.
2. Count the bullet holes in the urn on top of Al-Khazneh Palace.
b

July

August

September

October

november

December

December and January are the coldest and rainiest months. This period is also characterized by a large temperature difference: during the day it is very warm, in the evening and at night it is cold. So, if you are planning a trip during this time, bring warm clothes with you. And be sure to check the weather forecast: if showers are predicted, it is better to postpone the trip, because there is so much precipitation in winter here that rescuers have to evacuate tourists due to floods.

The best time to visit Petra is in the summer, but even then there are a few things to consider. important nuances. First, stock up on water beforehand to avoid dehydration. Secondly, do not forget a panama hat, which will save you from heat stroke, and vaseline ointment, which will help stop nosebleeds (which can be provoked by the hot and dry air of the valley).

Maybe someone remembers the old movie about Indiana Jones, in which he was looking for the Grail - there was a huge temple carved into the rock? It turns out that these were not decorations, but such a miracle really exists - in Petra!

Ancient Nabatean city Petra was founded in these rocks about 4 millennia ago (according to other sources - 2 millennia), back in the era of the Edomites - then a small but well-defended fortress was built in the rocks. Later, these lands passed into the possession of the Nabataean kingdom, which was just at that time experiencing its heyday.

Petra, which served as the capital of the kingdom, gradually acquired great influence and unusually wide fame. The emergence of the city in such hard to reach place became possible thanks to the ability of the Nabataeans to control the flow of water, because in fact Petra is nothing more than an artificial oasis! Flash floods often occur in this area, and the Nabataeans successfully controlled them using dams, cisterns and aqueducts, which allowed them not only to survive long periods of drought, but also successfully trade water.

In addition to the fact that the Nabataeans knew how to skillfully collect water, they also learned how to skillfully process stone. The name "Petra" literally translates as "Rock", and it is not surprising - after all, the entire ancient city consists entirely of stone!

However, the Nabataean kingdom fell under the onslaught of the Roman emperor Trajan, and then the Roman Empire itself went into oblivion ... Since the 16th century AD, only the wind “walked” here, and then infrequently. This pearl among the rocks was forgotten for more than 2 centuries - until the moment when, in 1812, the Swiss adventurer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt decided to find in these lands lost city, about which there were many legends, but which, despite this, no one has ever seen. As a result, the Swiss found the legendary lost city, carefully guarded by sands and rocks!

All the buildings of Petra were built mainly in three periods: under the Edomites (XVIII-II centuries BC), Nabataeans (II century BC - 106 BC) and the Romans (106-395 AD) .). In the XII century, the ancient city was owned by the Teutonic Knights. The monuments built here after the 6th century AD have practically not survived. Therefore, the appearance of Petra, which today opens up to the eyes of tourists, is the ancient capital of the Nabataean kingdom.

An interesting fact is that the territory of Petra is currently only 15% explored, so it is possible that soon the mysteries of the ancient city may amaze the whole world! Now imagine that these 15% are about 800 (!) different historical objects on the territory of Petra!

Due to such a huge number of centuries-old sights, even tickets here are sold for a three-day period - after all, in a day you can only briefly examine all the famous this moment“treasures” of Petra, but even a month is not enough to get acquainted with all its architectural elements in detail!

Petra makes an impression on all the tourists who came here - even the most sophisticated ones, and I think this is due to a greater extent not so much with the ancient city itself, but with the road that leads to it - after all, the city “hid” in the very center of the rock! In order to get to Petra, you have to go down to deep gorge, called "Sik" ("Mine"), formed as a result of a prehistoric shift of the earth's crust, and for a long time to walk along a narrow path (in some places only 3-4 meters wide) at its bottom, between sheer 80-meter cliffs, on which then here and there there are ancient inscriptions carved in stone and even entire niches carved into limestone for recreation.

At some point, it begins to seem that you will have to walk along this gorge forever, but suddenly it breaks off abruptly and the huge Pharaoh's Treasury opens up to your eyes ( Arabic name- El-Khazneh, from which the word “Treasury” later came) - one of the most famous monuments ancient Petra, in front of which the ant-people froze in surprise ...

Gradually, the state of stupor recedes and is replaced by surprise and disbelief that such a hulk can be carved into the rock. The purpose of Al-Khazne, carved into the rock around the 2nd century AD, is still unclear, but many historians and archaeologists believe that it was originally a temple of the goddess Isis.

In any case, the Treasury is an example of the greatest craftsmanship of ancient architects. After all, even today it would be very difficult to create such a structure, not to mention how accurate the calculations must be and how it was hollowed out of stone in general, if there is not a single tree for scaffolding around for hundreds of kilometers!

It is also surprising that after millennia, the facade of the Treasury turned out to be practically untouched - see for yourself!

Monument of the Pyramids in front of the entrance to the Siq Gorge

Before entering Petra, you can purchase detailed map cities and decide for yourself whether to wander through the most mysterious nooks and crannies in splendid isolation or hire a guide

Map of the ancient city

The map shows: 1 - Entrance; 2 - Al-Vuheira; 3 - The beginning of the Sik gorge; 4 - "Treasury of the Pharaohs"; 5 - Place of sacrifice; 6 - Theater; 7 - Tomb of the Urn or "Cathedral"; 8 - Tomb of Sextus Florentinus; 9 - "Nymphaeum"; 10 - Church; 11 - Temple of the Winged Lions; 12 - Big Temple; 13 - Temple of Uzza; 14 - Archaeological Museum; 15 - Lion's Triclinium (Roman dining room); 16 - El Deir Monastery

Sasha Mitrahovich 11.12.2015 09:50

The ancient city stretches for several kilometers. From east to west, the main street is laid, decorated on the sides with a colonnade. At its eastern end there is a three-span Triumphal Arch, and on the west - a large temple

Early necropolis of the Nabataeans

One of the main architectural elements Petra, along with the Treasury, is an ancient theater for 6000 spectators, completely carved into the rock and located so that from there you can see the most important tombs, among which are the “Cathedral”, the Palace Tomb, the Corinthian tomb, the Urn Tomb and the Silk Tomb

The theater was built in Petra at the beginning of the 1st century AD, almost at the same time as the majestic bulk of the El Deir monastery carved into the rock at the top of the cliff - a huge building about 50 m wide and more than 45 m high, which, judging by the carved on the walls crosses, for some time served as a Christian church. To many, it may seem familiar - most likely this is due to the fact that one of the scenes of the second film about Transformers was filmed here =)

Maybe it's more recognizable

From the slope next to El Deir, you can see Mount Jebel Harun with a white mosque on top - this relatively small and modest in its decoration tomb of Aaron, the brother of Moses, was erected in the 13th century by the Mamluk Sultan. According to Arabic legends, Petra- exactly the place where Moses struck the stone with his staff and water flowed out of it

To the right of the Theater is the entrance to the Cathedral. The inscription testifies that Bishop Jason converted the Doric Tomb into the Eucharistic Hall. The same inscription dates this transformation to AD 447.

Plan of the Church of the Papyrus in the western part of the city

1 - Atrium; 2 - Baptistery; 3 - Basilica; 4 - Department; 5 - Altar; 6 - Papyrus Room

Sasha Mitrahovich 11.12.2015 09:52

View of the church from the altar

In the 90s during excavations. conducted by the American Center for Oriental Research, a vast building was discovered, decorated with beautiful mosaics. A number of administrative records written on papyrus dating back to the sixth century AD have also been discovered. Papyri are part of a private archive including contracts, rents, exchanges, wills, and various kinds of agreements. In the photo - a medallion with the image of Neptune

The floors of the nave and the altar are made of multicolored marble tiles. Both passages are decorated with mosaics. The mosaic style refers to the Gaza School, which is very different from the Madaba School, of which mosaic examples have been found in previous days. Pictured is the atrium of the church. The basilica was divided into three parts by two rows of columns.

The baptistery is located in a room adjoining the atrium of the Church

Interior of the Temple of the Winged Lions

A Roman inscription from AD 114 on this monumental gate praises the Emperor Trajan. The gate leads to the large courtyard of the Temple of Uzza (Kazr al-Bint)

Inner courtyard of the Great Temple of Petra. The floor is made of hexagonal marble slabs

Panoramic view of Kazr al-Bint and Umm al-Biyar peak. The Temple of Uzza was built in the early 2nd century AD.

Arch in the façade of Kazr al-Bint

The Lion Triclinium got its name from the lions that “guard” the entrance.

It is also worth paying attention to the monumental tomb structure in the Roman style, which received the unpretentious name of the Palace-Tombstone. one more interesting place is the Archaeological Museum of Petra, which keeps a shadow of the history of the development, formation and decline of these lands. In the photo, a couple of exhibits from the museum - found in big temple a fragment of a capital sculpted in the form of an elephant and an eagle's head

And this is one of the reddish rocks with many shades, because of which Petra was often called the “Red City” or “City of Roses”

December 6, 1985 Petra was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO - the ancient city was named "one of the most precious elements cultural heritage humanity”, and on July 7, 2007, Petra was named among the “Seven New Wonders of the World”

Sasha Mitrahovich 11.12.2015 09:54 Ancient city of Petra. Treasure of Jordan

The ancient city of Petra is rightfully considered the main attraction of Jordan, which glorified this eastern country throughout the globe, and one of the 7 new wonders of the world!

Maybe someone remembers the old film about Indiana Jones, in which he was looking for the Grail - there was a huge temple carved into the rock =) It turns out that these were not scenery, but such a miracle really exists - in Petra!

The ancient Nabataean city was founded in these rocks about 4 millennia ago (according to other sources - 2 millennia), back in the era of the Edomites - then a small but well-defended fortress was built in the rocks. Later, these lands passed into the possession of the Nabataean kingdom, which was just at that time experiencing its heyday. Petra, which served as the capital of the kingdom, gradually gained enormous influence and unprecedented fame. The emergence of the city in such a remote place became possible thanks to the ability of the Nabataeans to control the flow of water, because in fact Petra is nothing more than an artificial oasis! Flash floods often occur in this area, and the Nabataeans successfully controlled them using dams, cisterns and aqueducts, which allowed them not only to survive long periods of drought, but also successfully trade water.

In addition to the fact that the Nabataeans knew how to skillfully collect water, they also learned how to skillfully process stone. The name "Petra" literally translates as "Rock", and it is not surprising - after all, the entire ancient city consists entirely of stone!

However, the Nabataean kingdom fell under the onslaught of the Roman emperor Trajan, and then the Roman Empire itself went into oblivion ... Since the 16th century AD, only the wind “walked” here, and then infrequently. This pearl among the rocks was forgotten for more than 2 centuries - until the moment when, in 1812, the Swiss adventurer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt decided to find a lost city in these lands, about which there were many legends, but which, despite this, no one never saw. As a result, the Swiss found the legendary lost city, carefully guarded by sands and rocks!

All the buildings of Petra were built mainly in three periods: under the Edomites (XVIII-II centuries BC), Nabataeans (II century BC - 106 BC) and the Romans (106-395 AD) .). In the XII century, the ancient city was owned by the Teutonic Knights. The monuments built here after the 6th century AD have practically not survived. Therefore, the appearance of Petra, which today opens up to the eyes of tourists, is the ancient capital of the Nabataean kingdom.

An interesting fact is that the territory of Petra is currently only 15% explored, so it is possible that soon the mysteries of the ancient city may amaze the whole world! Now imagine that these 15% are about 800 (!) different historical objects on the territory of Petra!

Due to such a huge number of centuries-old sights, even tickets here are sold for a three-day period - after all, in a day you can only briefly examine all the “treasures” of Petra known at the moment, but even a month is not enough to get acquainted with all its architectural elements in detail!

Petra makes an impression on all the tourists who came here - even the most sophisticated ones, and I think this is due to a greater extent not so much with the ancient city itself, but with the road that leads to it - after all, the city “hid” in the very center of the rock! In order to get to Petra, you need to go down into a deep gorge called “Sik” (“Mine”), formed as a result of a prehistoric shift of the earth’s crust, and walk along a narrow path for a long time (in some places only 3-4 meters wide) to its bottom, between sheer 80-meter cliffs, on which here and there there are ancient inscriptions carved in stone and even entire niches carved in limestone for recreation. At some point, it begins to seem that this gorge will have to go forever, but suddenly it breaks off abruptly and the huge Treasury of the Pharaoh (the Arabic name is El-Khazneh, from which the word “Treasury” later came) opens up - one of the most famous monuments of ancient Petra, in front of which the ant-people froze in surprise ...

Gradually, the state of stupor recedes and is replaced by surprise and disbelief that such a hulk can be carved into the rock. The purpose of Al-Khazneh, carved into the rock around the 2nd century AD, is still unclear, but many historians and archaeologists believe that it was originally a temple of the goddess Isis

In any case, the Treasury is an example of the greatest craftsmanship of ancient architects. After all, even today it would be very difficult to create such a structure, not to mention how accurate the calculations must be and how it was hollowed out of stone in general, if there is not a single tree for scaffolding around for hundreds of kilometers!

It is also surprising that after millennia, the facade of the Treasury turned out to be practically untouched - see for yourself!

Monument of the Pyramids in front of the entrance to the Siq Gorge

Before entering Petra, you can purchase a detailed map of the city and decide for yourself whether to wander through the most mysterious nooks and crannies in splendid isolation or hire a guide

Map of the ancient city

The map shows: 1 - Entrance; 2 - Al-Vuheira; 3 - The beginning of the Sik gorge; 4 - "Treasury of the Pharaohs"; 5 - Place of sacrifice; 6 - Theater; 7 - Tomb of the Urn or "Cathedral"; 8 - Tomb of Sextus Florentinus; 9 - "Nymphaeum"; 10 - Church; 11 - Temple of the Winged Lions; 12 - Big Temple; 13 - Temple of Uzza; 14 - Archaeological Museum; 15 - Lion's Triclinium (Roman dining room); 16 - El Deir Monastery

The ancient city stretches for several kilometers. From east to west, the main street is laid, decorated on the sides with a colonnade. At its eastern end there is a three-span triumphal arch, and at its western end there is a large temple

Early necropolis of the Nabataeans

One of the main architectural elements of Petra, along with the Treasury, is the ancient theater for 6000 spectators, completely carved into the rock and located so that from there you can see the most important tombs, among which are the “Cathedral”, the Palace Tomb, the Corinthian tomb, the Tomb of the Urn and the Silk Tomb

The theater was built in Petra at the beginning of the 1st century AD, almost at the same time as the majestic bulk of the El Deir monastery carved into the rock at the top of the cliff - a huge building about 50 m wide and more than 45 m high, which, judging by the carved on the walls crosses, for some time served as a Christian church. To many, it may seem familiar - most likely this is due to the fact that one of the scenes of the second film about Transformers was filmed here =)

Maybe it's more recognizable

From the slope next to El Deir, you can see Mount Jebel Harun with a white mosque on top - this relatively small and modest in its decoration tomb of Aaron, the brother of Moses, was erected in the 13th century by the Mamluk Sultan. According to Arabic legends, this is exactly the place where Moses struck a stone with his staff and water flowed from it.

To the right of the Theater is the entrance to the Cathedral. The inscription testifies that Bishop Jason converted the Doric Tomb into the Eucharistic Hall. The same inscription dates this transformation to AD 447.

Plan of the Church of the Papyrus in the western part of the city

1 - Atrium; 2 - Baptistery; 3 - Basilica; 4 - Department; 5 - Altar; 6 - Papyrus Room

View of the church from the altar

In the 90s during excavations. conducted by the American Center for Oriental Research, a vast building was discovered, decorated with beautiful mosaics. A number of administrative records written on papyrus dating back to the sixth century AD have also been discovered. Papyri are part of a private archive including contracts, rents, exchanges, wills, and agreements of various sorts. In the photo - a medallion with the image of Neptune

The floors of the nave and the altar are made of multicolored marble tiles. Both passages are decorated with mosaics. The mosaic style refers to the Gaza School, which is very different from the Madaba School, of which mosaic examples have been found in previous days. Pictured is the atrium of the church. The basilica was divided into three parts by two rows of columns.

The baptistery is located in a room adjoining the atrium of the Church

Interior of the Temple of the Winged Lions

A Roman inscription from AD 114 on this monumental gate praises the Emperor Trajan. The gate leads to the large courtyard of the Temple of Uzza (Kazr al-Bint)

Inner courtyard of the Great Temple of Petra. The floor is made of hexagonal marble slabs

Panoramic view of Kazr al-Bint and Umm al-Biyar peak. The Temple of Uzza was built in the early 2nd century AD.

Arch in the façade of Kazr al-Bint

The Lion Triclinium got its name from the lions that “guard” the entrance.

It is also worth paying attention to the monumental tomb structure in the Roman style, which received the unpretentious name of the Palace-Tombstone. Another interesting place is the Petra Archaeological Museum, which keeps a shadow of the history of the development, formation and decline of these lands. In the photo there are a couple of exhibits from the museum - a fragment of a capital carved in the shape of an elephant and an eagle's head found in the Great Temple

And this is one of the reddish rocks with many shades, because of which Petra was often called the “Red City” or “City of Roses”

December 6, 1985 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - the ancient city was named "one of the most precious elements of the cultural heritage of mankind", and on July 7, 2007 Petra was named among the "Seven New Wonders of the World"