petra castle jordan. The ancient city of Petra in Jordan - we go through the back door
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 List world heritage UNESCO, 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 scenic " 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
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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 located majestic palace El-Khazneh (Treasury, or Treasury) is 42 m high. It was carved into a solid rock in the 1st century, an urn is 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
- Climb 800 steps to Ad-Dair Temple.
- Count the bullet holes in the urn on top of Al-Khazneh Palace. b
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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).
Petra (Arabic البتراء reads "Al-Batra") is an ancient city located in southwestern Jordan, former capital Idumea, and later - the Nabatean kingdom. It is located at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level in the narrow canyon of the Siq. The capital of Jordan - Amman - is 236 km away.
The ancient city of Petra belongs to the new wonders of the world, and is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Millions of tourists come here to see with their own eyes rock city. The spectacle is really impressive, since it is impossible to believe that this was created several millennia ago.
Petra - the history of the city
The history of the city of Petra in Jordan began in the 18th century. BC, when the Edomites were the owners here (XVIII - II century BC), they laid the foundation for many buildings. Next were the Nabataeans (II century BC - 106 AD), then the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs. And in the XII century. AD The city belonged to the crusaders.
Who built Petra and why
The name of the city of Petra is translated from Greek as "rock", and it is not surprising - after all, the entire ancient city consists entirely of stone. And it is also called the “pink” city, since at sunrise and sunset the rocks really cast a scarlet and pink hue.
The rock city of Petra arose due to the fact that the Nabataeans - nomadic Arabs - managed to control the flow of water, which was important for the area. When there were torrential floods, people used cisterns and aqueducts - this allowed not only to survive the drought, but also provided income from the sale of water to travelers.
While great city Petra had a favorable location, being at the crossroads of strategically important trade routes. One of them connected the Persian Gulf and Gaza, and the other - the Red Sea and Damascus. Caravans loaded with spices endured the drought of the Arabian Desert for weeks. And then they were waiting for the secluded canyon of the Siq, which led to Petra.
For several hundred years, the spice trade brought the city a huge income. But after the discovery by the Romans of sea routes to the East, land caravans gradually lost their meaning in their existence and Petra became lost city wrapped in sand.
It is not known whether we would have known about the existence dead city, if in 1812 the Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt had not discovered and described it.
Sights of the city of Petra
Temples, tombs, baths, colonnades - stone city boasts more than 800 ancient monuments, which are evidence that hardworking and talented people lived here.
To see this wonder of the world, you need to overcome several kilometers through the Siq Gorge. And you have to do it on foot. Already here you will be impressed by the sheer cliffs that form the walls of the dark corridor. Coming out of here, the first thing a tourist sees is the Al-Khazne Palace.
El-Khazne Palace - one of the main attractions of Petra, is the tomb of one of the kings of the Nabatean kingdom. The building is carved into a huge rock, has an elegant pediment and towering columns. To this day, it remains a mystery how the builders in those days managed to create such a structure - without scaffolding (there are no trees in this area) and special equipment. There is a version that the palace of El-Khazneh was the temple of the goddess Isis.
Going around the rock in which the palace is carved, a view opens up of many buildings carved in stone - these are former residential buildings, stairs, arches, and even a Roman amphitheater that could once accommodate about 4,000 spectators.
The city has two archaeological museum, many monuments of biblical chronicles - Mount Aaron, on which the high priest, according to legend, died; Valley of Wadi Musa source of Ain Musa (Moses). Also here you can see Kazr al-Bint - main temple Nabatean kingdom.
Another attraction that strikes with its beauty is the Ad-Deir Monastery, which is located on top of a cliff. The height of the building is about 45 meters, and the width is 50 meters. The monastery has only one room and a staircase that leads to a niche. There were once columns in the square in front of Ed Deir, various religious ceremonies were held here. Opposite the monastery, a cafe was organized for tourists so that they could hide in the shade and enjoy the beauty of antiquity with a cool drink.
Excursions to the city of Petra
You can visit Petra on your own or take a guided tour. To thoroughly explore all the sights, one day may not be enough, so we recommend staying at a hotel in neighboring city Wadi Musa. It is there that the entire tourist infrastructure is concentrated. not numerous - in total there are about 40 hotel facilities in the city, prices start at $ 16, the average cost per day is $ 70.
What to bring from the trip:
- souvenirs with colored sand;
- figures with sights;
- bijouterie jewelry.
How to get there
Amman to Petra is a 3 hour drive if you follow the "Desert Highway". You can also go along the "Royal Road", but then it will take 5 hours.
By bus
A bus runs daily from the Abdali bus station in Aman to Petra, it leaves in the morning at 06:30, the journey time is 3.5 hours. The bus goes back to Aman at 17:00. One-way fare is 10 Jordanian dinars (approximately $14).
Minibus
Also in Aman there is a Wihdat bus station, from where minibuses depart several times a day. The fare is 5 Jordanian dinars (approximately $7). Travel time - 3 hours.
From other countries
If you are vacationing in Egypt or Israel, then you also have the opportunity to visit Petra. Almost all travel agencies resorts organize tours to Jordan.
Entrance fees:
- for 1 day - 50 Jordanian dinars (70 $);
- for 2 days - 55 Jordanian dinars (77 $);
- for those who arrive in Jordan for just a day, the entrance to Petra will cost 90 Jordanian dinars ($127);
- guide - 50 Jordanian dinars (70 $);
- night tour(from 20:30 to 22:00) - 17 Jordanian dinars ($24).
106 km from Petra there is another interesting attraction of Jordan - the reserve, or Moon Valley.
The city of Petra on the map of Wadi Musa
Petra (Arabic البتراء reads "Al-Batra") is an ancient city located in the southwest of Jordan, the former capital of Idumea, and later the Nabatean kingdom. It is located at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level in the narrow canyon of the Siq. The capital of Jordan - Amman - is 236 km away.
The ancient city of Petra belongs to the new wonders of the world... />
Today I will tell you about the main attraction of Jordan - the ancient city of Petra. 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. The passage to the valley is through the gorges located in the north and south, while from the east and west the cliffs break off vertically, forming natural walls up to 60 m in height. In 2007 Petra was chosen as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Petra was located at the crossroads of two important trade routes: one connected the Red Sea with Damascus, the other - the Persian Gulf with Gaza off the coast mediterranean sea. Caravans from the Persian Gulf, laden with precious spices, had to courageously endure the harsh conditions of the Arabian desert for weeks until they reached the coolness of the narrow Sik canyon, leading to the long-awaited Petra. There travelers found food, shelter and cool life-giving water.
For hundreds of years, trade brought great wealth to Petra. But when the Romans discovered sea routes to the East, the land trade in spices came to naught and Petra gradually became empty, lost in the sands. Many buildings of Petra were erected in different eras and under different owners of the city, including the Edomites (18-2 centuries BC), Nabataeans (2nd century BC - 106 AD), Romans (106-395 AD), Byzantines and Arabs. In the 12th century A.D. e. it was owned by the crusaders.
The first European of modern times to see and describe Petra was the Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who traveled incognito. Near the ancient theater here you can see the building of the Idumean or Nabatean era. Monuments, built after the VI century AD. e. practically none, because in that era the city had already lost its significance.
01. Now about half a million tourists visit Petra every year. Entrance for a day is about 55 euros, for 60 euros you can buy a ticket for 2 days. View of the road to Petra. 
02. From here begins the gorge. Eat the main road- flat, wide enough, almost all tourists get to Petra through it. But you can turn around and go down the dirt road. To do this, turn right at the post into the tunnel. It is quite difficult to go there, but you can feel yourself in the place of the Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who discovered Petra in 1812. 
03. a few more vids from above. 
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05. This is what the main road looks like. Before entering, you will be actively driven by a horse to get to the city, do not agree, the road there is very easy. But you can return back on the wagon. This pleasure costs 20 euros, you can’t bargain, since the tariff is official. 
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09. With the help of terracotta pipes, the architects of Petra created a complex water supply system and despite the arid climate, the inhabitants of the city never needed water. There were about 200 tanks throughout the city that collected and stored rainwater. In addition to connecting reservoirs, terracotta pipes collected water from all sources within a radius of 25 kilometers. Annual rainfall in Petra is only about 15 centimeters. To save water locals cut channels and reservoirs right in the rocks. 
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11. When tourists pass through the cool canyon of the Siq, a kilometer long, the Treasury opens to them around the corner - majestic building with a facade carved from a huge rock. This is one of the best preserved buildings of the first century. 
12. The building is crowned with a huge urn made of stone, in which gold and gems- hence the name "Treasury". The official name of this structure is Al Khazneh. The architects planned the construction of this temple in the former river bed. For its construction, the riverbed was changed, a grandiose project for that time. A tunnel was cut through the rock to divert the flow of water and a series of dams were built. 
13. According to the folk etymological version, the word “Treasury” subsequently came from the word “El-Khazne”. In fact, there is no direct connection between these words. Al-Khazneh literally means "storage" from hazan - store, store. The Russian word "treasury" goes back to the same Arabic word, but was directly borrowed in the XII-XIV centuries from the Polovtsian language. Famous cat. 
14. A few more photos of local cats, but I don't like them so much))) 
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18. The canyon gradually expands, and tourists enter a natural amphitheater, in the sandstone walls of which there are many caves. But the main thing that catches your eye is the crypts carved into the rocks. The colonnade and the amphitheater testify to the presence of the Romans in the city in the first and second centuries. 
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20. The very name "Petra", which means "rock". And Petra, indeed, was a city of stone, like it in the Roman Empire was not. The Nabataeans who built the city patiently carved houses, crypts and temples from stone blocks. Petra is nestled among the red sandstones, which are excellent for building, and by the first century AD, a monumental city had grown in the heart of the desert. 
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30. end point route is the monastery of Ad Deir. To get to it, you need to climb the mountain for a rather long time, or you can take a donkey for 5 euros and go back down on foot. 
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38. Ed-Deir, 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. 
39. Not far from the monastery are located viewing platforms, here you can admire the view of the valley. 
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42. All the viewpoints were chosen by the Bedouins, who will extort money from you. 
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45. Get ready for a large number little extortionists and souvenir dealers. There is nothing special to buy there, prices in Petra are overpriced by about 2 times. 
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49. Some tourists try to save money and sneak in mountain paths without a ticket. For them, guards were posted on the distant approaches, who check tickets and chase off violators. 
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54. And this is how an alternative gorge looks like, along which you can get to Petra. Very beautiful, although the walk is much longer, but it's worth it.
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58. The entrance to Petra is open from 6 am to 5 pm. Sometimes the city is opened at night, you need to buy an additional ticket. All the way to the Treasury is decorated with paper lanterns. 
60. On the square near the Treasury itself, there is a small performance. 
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64. View of Petra from a nearby mountain. 
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 coastlines Dead Sea and 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- a 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 urn made of stone, in which gold and precious stones were allegedly kept, hence the name of the temple (translated from Arabic as “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.
Having rounded the rock and the palace of Al-Khazne, 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 the main temple of the 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-Khabis) 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 ended in big temple, and the eastern one ended with 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"
When Moses got in the way impregnable mountains, which he had to overcome, the patriarch struck the rocks with his staff - and they parted. Since the staff was curved, the road turned out to be winding. Therefore, in our time, tourists who want to see the unique sights of Petra are forced to descend into deep gorge Siq through a narrow paved tunnel, the width of which in some places does not exceed three meters along the rocks, which almost completely hide the sky. Bas-reliefs are carved on these rocks, and along the way, an ancient water trough was laid, through which water flowed to the ancient city of Petra.
The city of Petra is located in Jordan, 100 km from the Arabian Gulf, in a mountainous area, at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. m., in a valley completely surrounded by rocks, on the eastern side of Mount Horus (on geographical map it can be found at the following coordinates: 30° 19′ 44″ s. sh., 35° 26′ 25″ in. d.).
The city is notable for the fact that many buildings in it - residential buildings, temples, a treasury, tombs, an amphitheater, monasteries are completely carved into the rocks. These buildings are so beautiful and elegant that they are a real work of art.
On this moment more than 800 sights have been discovered on the territory of the ancient settlement - and this despite the fact that scientists claim that the ancient city of Petra was surveyed only by fifteen percent. As a result of a worldwide vote, the city in the rock was included in the list of the new seven wonders of the world.
How the city appeared
History of this unique city began as early as the 4th-3rd millennium BC, when the Nabataeans, representatives of the Semitic people, leading a nomadic lifestyle, decided to settle here. They chose the place for their settlement extremely carefully: accustomed to constant battles and the struggle for life, they decided to build their capital in a remote mountainous area.
They did not think about how to name the city for a long time - and it received the name Sela (stone), and modern name The settlement received "Petra" a little later, when the ancient Greeks translated the word into their own language.
The valley, located in the Siq Canyon, suited them best, since the city could only be reached through a single narrow gorge. In terms of defense, this was an ideal solution: even the famous Roman generals constantly failed here and, unable to penetrate the city, were forced to lift the siege.
Petra also turned out to be very well located in terms of trade (this can be seen by looking closely at the map), since it was here that the two trade routes: the first connected the Red Sea with Damascus, the second - Gaza with the Persian Gulf.
Thus, Petra was perfect place for the rest of caravans loaded with goods that traveled from different parts of the world and were forced to cross the harsh and hot Arabian desert. In the capital of the Nabataeans, tired travelers found shelter, food, water and traded.
It was trade that made the city extremely successful and prosperous for many centuries - until the Romans opened easier sea routes to the east, and the need for caravans disappeared, because of which trade came to naught and the history of the city of Petra gradually came to an end. .
Construction of Petra
Since the city was built both near and in the rock itself, the builders definitely had a hard time. Therefore, there is no doubt that in order to build such structures, they had to have considerable knowledge and skills: the ancient masters managed to create buildings that were absolutely not inferior to Greek and Roman sights either in decor or in architecture.
The water supply system that the builders provided to Peter cannot but surprise: about two hundred reservoirs were equipped here that collected and stored rainwater. Water was supplied here with the help of terracotta pipes from all sources located within a radius of twenty kilometers.
Despite the hot climate and waterless terrain, the inhabitants of Petra did not feel the need for water (if the architects had not managed to think through this moment well, the capital would not have existed for a long time).
What does Petra look like?
One of the amazing features of the ancient city is that the rocks, consisting mainly of red sandstone, constantly change their appearance depending on the light, so Petra looks completely different every time in the same place, trying on all the shades throughout the day. red color (thanks to this, Petra received another name - the Pink City).
Petra was major city: from central square, on which the ruins of various buildings are very well preserved (not carved into the rock, but erected in the usual way) the highway stretches for several more kilometers from west to east. In the west, the road rests on the Ed-Deir Monastery, carved into the rock, the height and width of which are about 50 meters (the fact that it was once a Christian church is indicated by crosses carved on the walls).
Currently, archaeologists have discovered more than eight hundred different attractions in the city, for which tourists from all over the world come here:
- Temples, among which the most famous is the "Cathedral", a building decorated with mosaics and decorated with marble slabs. Several administrative records written on papyrus dated to the 6th century BC have been found here. AD;
- An amphitheater carved into the rock, designed for more than 6 thousand spectators and located so that you can see the main tombs of the city;
- Palaces, tombs and crypts carved into the rocks. Among them was even discovered the tomb of Aaron, which was built in the XIII century. by order of the Mamluk Sultan. He was absolutely not embarrassed that the brother of Moses, in whose honor he built the tomb, lived several millennia before this event;
- But the most significant and eye-catching attraction, which is a real wonder of the world, without a doubt, is El Hezne.
El Khazneh
For what purpose in the I century. AD a temple was carved into the rock, the height of which was 40 m, and the width was 25 m, it is not completely clear, although hypotheses, of course, exist. For example, one of the most possible versions says that El Khazneh was the tomb of the Nabatean king Aref IV Philopatra.
There is also another interesting version that it could be the temple of Isis. There are other, more incredible assumptions, for example, according to one of the legends, the pharaoh once kept his treasures in El Khazna, and according to another myth, robbers who attacked caravans hid their booty in the temple.
The architecture of El Khazneh, in any case, testifies to the high level of skill of local architects: a miracle of this magnitude is difficult to create even today. It is surprising not only the grandeur of the idea and the accuracy of the calculation, but also how it was possible to knock out such a tall building in the rock, when there are absolutely no trees in the district from which scaffolding could be made.
The building itself looks great: six columns are installed at the entrance to El Khazneh, and the building itself is decorated with magnificent bas-reliefs. The most mysterious decoration is at the very top: the temple is crowned with a huge stone pot.
Why exactly it had to be created there surprises many, but the Bedouins are convinced that ancient treasures are hidden in it, and if you make a successful shot, the lucky one will be showered with gold and stones (for this purpose they even once shot him, but, of course, to no avail).
When is the best time to go to Petra
Despite the fact that Petra is characterized by a hot and dry climate, before deciding on a trip, you should take an interest in the weather forecast and take into account the time of year. For example, December and January are the coldest and rainiest months, which are characterized by a large temperature difference (it can be + 15 ° C during the day, + 3 ° C at night).
It is worth rescheduling the trip if the forecasters promise showers, because in this case the precipitation is so strong that rescuers often have to evacuate tourists, as a real flood begins in the valley.
If you plan to visit this wonder of the world in the summer, then you should definitely not forget to take a panama hat and sunglasses with you, and do not forget about water. It should be borne in mind that hot and dry air can sometimes cause nosebleeds, therefore, in order to avoid such a nuisance, experts recommend taking petroleum jelly or an ointment based on it with you and lubricating the inner surface of the nostrils with it to prevent bleeding.
