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Petra
With a history that dates back as far as the Middle Ages and a reputation for being one of the wonders of the world, the Jordanian City of Petra has been the subject of continuous mythologizing over the centuries. Discovered in 1812 and dubbed the “rose red city” by the Victorian poet Dean Burgeon who wrote a poem about the city: “a rose red city half as old as time”, Petra was built by the early Bedouin tribe known as the Nabataeans in the 3 century BC as a fortress city for them to hide in as they descended from Arabia into Jordan.
Petra - A City of Sand and Stone
The Nabateans settled in this rocky enclave as a source of protection, which the mountainous setting was able to provide. Chiseled into the sandstone mountains of the Jordanian southwestern region, the city of Petra could only be accessed on foot thus making it impossible for massive armies to penetrate it. This defense tactic was made possible by the geological phenomenon that is the Shiq gulf situated directly before the city entrance.
A cleft or crack in the earth’s surface, the Shiq has a biblical history all its own. Aside from being the entrance hall into the great city of Petra, the two kilometer long Shiq is believed to be the place where Moses performed the miracle of the water as he lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Tapping upon a stone so as to make water appear from it is the first of many miracles documented in the Bible as having been performed by Moses in the Petra Basin. It is no wonder therefore that the chasm in which the city was built was named after Moses himself—Wadi Musa, or Valley of Moses in English.
Though the city of Petra is not situated in Israel proper, it is well worth the commute when on a tour to the Holy Land. Especially when on a Jewish heritage tour, a Bar Mitzvah tour or a Bat Mitzvah tour to Israel, it is a great idea to introduce the family to the neighboring Arabic culture and history via a trip to Petra.
El Khazneh - Petra’s Most Impressive Treasure
Just before the Shi gulf turns away from the city and into obscurity, it is met with one of Petra’s most fascinating landmarks. Known as El Khazneh, Arabic for “The Treasury”, the Khazneh is a monumental shrine, originally a tomb, wherein the Nabatean King Aretas IV is believed to be buried. The entrance into the tomb is decorated by a 140 feet high and some 90 feet wide facade. The ornate decorations that line the facade, carved into the solid stone and perfectly preserved for thousands of years, are reminiscent of Greek and Roman architecture displaying classical features such as columns, doric, ionic an corinthian capitals (each located at the base and top of the columns) and massive arches.
Interestingly, these features are also mimicked by the other structures in the city—from the massive banquet hall to the Roman-style amphitheater, to some 800 burial tombs that line the city streets.
Despite the breathtaking entrance into the tomb, visitors may find the interior hall somewhat disanointing. Nevertheless, the sheer height of the ceilings and the thought that these were manually carved out of stone is enough to elicit awe even if though the ornate styling is vastly missing.
Starting from around 1115 AD, the Crusaders occupied the city of Petra and the area around the Moses Valley. It was during this time that the splendid Nabatean tomb was repossessed and made into a monestary name ad-Dair.
Petra in Modern Times - A Prime Tourist Destination
Named as one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” in 2007, it seems Petra has finally gained the title it so deserves. And although it took a long time to obtain this heading, Petra has long since been an unofficial source of inspiration and wonder, not only in the ancient world but in the modern one too.
Indeed, the city of Petra has appeared (if with a measure of inaccuracy) in the third Indiana Jones sequel Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, as well as in the science fiction success Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. The mystifying city has also featured prominently in video games and children’s books, often depicted as a “faraway land” and a haunted or magical place.
Added to the ancient and modern glory of this city, Petra’s location in Jordan makes it relatively easy to access. Indeed, Jordan, to differ from many Arab states, is very Western friendly, enjoys diplomatic relations with the state of Israel and a peaceful border, making moving about the state an easy and relaxed experience.
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