PETRA.

THE KHAZNAH
 What is Petra:
The Greek name Petra (“Rock”) probably replaced the biblical
name Sela. Remains from the Paleolithic and Neolithic
periods have been discovered at Petra, and Edomites are
known to have occupied the area about 1200 bce. Centuries
later the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe, occupied it and made it
the capital of their kingdom. In 312 bce the region was
attacked by Seleucid forces, who failed to seize the city.
Under Nabataean rule, Petra prospered as a centre of the
spice trade that involved such disparate realms as China,
Egypt, Greece, and India, and the city’s population swelled
to between 10,000 and 30,000.
 Where is Petra located
The ruins of the ancient city Petra are in
southwest Jordan. Petra was built on a
terrace, pierced from east to west by the Wadi
Mūsā (the Valley of Moses). Petra is called in
Arabic Baṭrā, and it was once a center of an
Arab kingdom in Hellenistic and Roman times,
 Who rediscovered Petra for the Western
world in the m?odern era
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt , a Swiss traveler,
discovered Petra in 1812. He was the first
European in modern times to visit the ancient
city of Petra. He is a native French speaker,
Burckhardt was born in Lausanne, Switzerland
in November 1784. He spent much of his
childhood in Germany and moved to England
in 1806, where he was introduced to Sir
Joseph Banks of the Royal Society.
 Who built Petra
When the Nabataeans were defeated by the Romans in
106 ce, Petra became part of the Roman province of
Arabia but continued to flourish until changing trade
routes caused its gradual commercial decline. After an
earthquake (not the first) damaged the city in 551,
significant habitation seems to have ceased. The Islamic
invasion occurred in the 7th century, and a Crusader
outpost is evidence of activity there in the 12th century.
After the Crusades the city was unknown to the Western
world until it was rediscovered by the Swiss traveler
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.
 Why is Petra so special
Petra is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site that has
“outstanding universal value” due to its functionality,
preservation, and architecture. Its location in the desert
means that the original inhabitants needed to creatively
devise ways to get water and other resources to the city.
To call Petra wonder is a gross understatement. This rose-
colored city carved into a sheer cliff face is a masterpiece
of ancient ingenuity and skill. It was rediscovered in 1812
by John Lewis Burckhardt and has since become a wildly
popular tourist destination for those who want a
firsthand encounter with this preserved ancient city
 The Khaznah
• Al-Khazneh is one of the most elaborate temples in
Petra, a city of the Nabatean Kingdom inhabited by
the Arabs in ancient times. As with most of the
other buildings in this ancient town, including the
Monastery, this structure was carved out of a
sandstone rock face ,Al-Khazneh served as a model
in a simplified form for other facades of the
classical-complex type in Petra, such as the
Corinthian Tomb on the wall of the Royal Tombs, as
well as for Ad Deir (Monastery).
 A file fact about Petra
• Petra was home to ancient Arabs in the 2nd Century. ...
• It was ruled by Romans in 106 AD. ...
• Petra was a booming trading centre. ...
• Petra is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. ...
• Petra means Rock. ...
• There are more than 1000 tombs in Petra. ...
• Petra is considered to be the lost city.
• Petra is one of the oldest cities in the world.
• It's also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• The name 'Petra' means 'rocks'
• The original inhabitants had a different name for it.
• Approximately only 15% of Petra has been explored by archaeologists, which therefore
means that there is still plenty to be revealed
• Situated between the Red and Dead Sea, Petra was a significant junction between Egypt,
Arabia and Syria-Phoenicia during Hellenistic and Roman times. It was also a key hub for the
silks of China, spices of India and the incense of Arabia.
• It wouldn’t have been possible for Petra to exist if it had not been for the water channel
system that was constructed to offer storage and supply for its people. As a result, there was
apparently enough water to support the 30,000 citizens that are believed to have occupied
Petra.