PETRA

Petra historic site is located in a desert region in southwest Jordan. Precisely between the Dead Sea and the Red sea.

Petra site became famous when it appeared in the film Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 1989. Petra was known as an important historic site during the Caliphate of the Mediterranean and Middle East, but was abandoned in the 7th century AD.

Petra building is very charming with a blend of Eastern and Hellenistic styles. Half the building was made of carved natural red sandstone.

In the past, Petra was once a trade center as well as the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom connecting trade between China, India and countries in southern Arabia, with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.

In about 100 AD, Petra fell into the hands of Rome and this condition lasted 300 years until the Byzantine period and the Roman Emperor shifted his focus to Constantinople. Since then Petra began to be abandoned. The earthquake that had hit Petra made it 'buried'.

 

Petra Treasury

Of the many rocks carved in Petra City, there is a main building there. This building is a reddish palace. Just imagine how the past history carved stones from chunks into magnificent palaces. Certainly the inhabitants of Petra are not just any civilized nation.


Nabateans are a native of Northwestern Arabia. Petra is the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Because it is the center of government, economy and civilization, Petra must be built proportionally.


Located in an area with a clad valley, the Nabatean tribe at that time made an extremely complicated irrigation system.
With the irrigation system, water can be channeled throughout the city.
But everything changed when Rome attacked the Nabatean Kingdom and occupied Petra City in 106 AD
Since then, the collapse of Petra City began. Coupled with an earthquake that shook the area, thus causing the City of Petra increasingly destroyed. After the destruction, the city of Petra was left dormant for several centuries under the remnants of the ruined city.
In 1812, for the first time a Swiss tourist named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt discovered the City of Petra under the rubble. Disguised using Beduin clothes, Johann mingled with the local community until finally finding the ruins.
At present, the City of Petra can be visited by hitching a ride on public transportation from the City of Amman, Jordan.
It takes about two to three hours to travel.