Petra: Rock-cut façades (article) | Khan Academy (2024)

FAQs

Why is dating the buildings of Petra difficult? ›

The dating of the tombs has proved difficult as there are almost no finds, such as coins and pottery, that enable archaeologists to date these tombs; a few inscriptions allow us to date some of the tombs at Petra, although at Egra, another Nabataean site (in modern Saudi Arabia), there are thirty-one dated tombs.

Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved; it was called "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a poem of 1845 by John Burgon.

The facades were all that remained when 19th-century travelers arrived here and concluded that Petra was an eerie and puzzling city of tombs. Now, however, archaeologists are discovering that ancient Petra was a sprawling city of lush gardens and pleasant fountains, enormous temples and luxurious Roman-style villas.

They found spectacular structures carved into cliffs, elaborate sculptures and statues, intricate pottery and jewelry, and much more. And today, Petra is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. Still, only five percent of the city has been uncovered, and many mysteries remain.

Additionally, the narrow passageway leading to the Treasury's interior presents safety hazards, such as the risk of overcrowding and potential structural instability. Therefore, prohibiting entry helps ensure the long-term conservation of the Treasury while safeguarding the safety of both visitors and the site itself.

Over time, the city was lost to the outside world. More than 500 years would pass before the ancient city was rediscovered by Western explorers. A stone block inscribed with a cross was found at the Petra Church. Today, Bedouins inhabit the area of Petra.

Once Rome formally took possession of Petra in A.D. 106, its importance in international trade began to wane. The decay of the city continued, aided by earthquakes and the rise in importance of sea trade routes, and Petra reached its nadir near the close of the Byzantine Empire's rule, around A.D. 700.

The caves, temples, and tombs of Petra reveal an impressive civilization. The “Rose City” is a honeycomb of hand-hewn caves, temples, and tombs carved from blushing pink sandstone in the high desert of Jordan some 2,000 years ago.

About: The rock-cut architecture is a type of Rock Art in which a structure is created by carving it out of solid natural rock. Cave temples and monasteries are found in many parts of India, but the largest and most famous artificial caves were excavated from Western Deccan region.

Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. An ingenious water management system allowed extensive settlement of an essentially arid area during the Nabataean, Roman and Byzantine periods.

Who built Petra when and why? ›

The spectacular sandstone city of Petra was built in the 3rd century BC by the Nabataeans, who carved palaces, temples, tombs, storerooms and stables from the soft stone cliffs.

While Petra is generally acknowledged for its rock-cut architecture, one particular element stands out, capturing the curiosity of visitors and archaeologists alike. At the heart of this mystery is a large temple or tomb, the purpose of which remains elusive despite extensive exploration and study.

Many people know of Petra's famous Treasury from the Hollywood film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” with Harrison Ford. It's inside that Ford finds the Holy Grail.

Turns out its not just cameras that have been aimed at the ruins of Petra. Several bullet holes on the facade of the Treasury were caused hundreds of years ago by Bedouin tribesman hoping to uncover riches that they believed were hidden within.

At its peak, 2,000 years ago, Petra was home to as many as 30,000 people, full of temples, theatres, lush gardens, tombs, luxurious Roman-style villas, and busy marketplaces brimming with exotic goods from India, Arabia, and Egypt.

The gradual move to nearby fertile areas

After the sophisticated hydraulic system slowly fell into disrepair, most inhabitants of the Petra valley gradually, but not completely, moved to the nearby fertile areas where they could find better opportunities for water and agriculture.

Some main archeological sites inside the city are the Treasury – the tomb of a Nabatean king, the Monastery – an isolated mountain temple, a theatre, government buildings and dwelling for regular people.