The City of Petra was hidden in the mountains of Jordan for thousands of years when a young Swiss explorer Johan Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812.Temples, tombs, monasteries and other buildings are all carved out of the sandstone cliffs, which also gives it the name the “rose red city.” UNESCO has described it as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage.”
You reach the ancient city of Petra by going through a narrow corridor in a mountain of rocks.This corridor is about a mile long and just wide enough to fit a small truck – although most people go through on horseback or on foot. When you emerge, you enter a little hidden valley, which is mountain-locked.
It was famous around the time of Christ for being the only way through those mountains, and traders bringing back silk from China to Europe often traveled through there. Back then, the people of Petra charged a fee-and of course became quite rich.The valley is a mile long, and more than thirty temples line the canyon sides.
Many of these temples or tombs go back to about 600 B.C., but the particular one they used was built around the time of Christ. Nobody knows for sure what it was used for. Behind the temple face are a few small, square rooms, which are completely empty. Whatever they held was stolen long ago. It’s quite an incredible place – like a tenth wonder of the world.”
Photo by: MarceloRuiz
Inside a nabatean tomb by: MarceloRuiz
One of the most elaborate buildings in the ancient city of Petra by: ZbigD
Petra by night by: sonofwalrus
Inside the Treasury by: MarceloRuiz
Petra sandstone by: ladigue_99
You reach the ancient city of Petra by going through a narrow corridor in a mountain of rocks.This corridor is about a mile long and just wide enough to fit a small truck – although most people go through on horseback or on foot. When you emerge, you enter a little hidden valley, which is mountain-locked.
It was famous around the time of Christ for being the only way through those mountains, and traders bringing back silk from China to Europe often traveled through there. Back then, the people of Petra charged a fee-and of course became quite rich.The valley is a mile long, and more than thirty temples line the canyon sides.
Many of these temples or tombs go back to about 600 B.C., but the particular one they used was built around the time of Christ. Nobody knows for sure what it was used for. Behind the temple face are a few small, square rooms, which are completely empty. Whatever they held was stolen long ago. It’s quite an incredible place – like a tenth wonder of the world.”
Photo by: MarceloRuizInside a nabatean tomb by: MarceloRuizOne of the most elaborate buildings in the ancient city of Petra by: ZbigDPetra by night by: sonofwalrusInside the Treasury by: MarceloRuizPetra sandstone by: ladigue_99
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