The “Lost City” Of Petra, Jordan

Carved into the red-hued desert sandstone cliffs of Jordan, the “Lost City” Of Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Weathered by the desert winds, the ruins of the city are an impressive sight as they stand strong even after two millennia. These monuments and tombs are also a poignant reminder that civilizations rise and fall, and even great cities fade in time.

Geology of Petra

The sandstones of Petra are formed from sand that was deposited in the area hundreds of millions of years ago. There are two main types of sandstone here: the red, brown, and violet Umm Ishrin Formation, and the younger white Disi Formation above. These were laid down in the Ordovician and Cambrian periods, roughly between 520 and 470 million years ago.

The geology of the area certainly played an important role in Petra’s history, and its selection as the site for the Nabataean city. Firstly, the sandstone cliffs are soft and easily carved, allowing easy carving and the creation of stunning monuments. Secondly, the sandstone cliffs and winding valleys made this area attractive. The geography made the city easily defendable, invaders would find it hard to attach and conquer the city.

Who built Petra? – Nabataeans and the Golden Age of Petra

A group of nomadic Arabs, the Nabataeans, originated somewhere in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Eventually they settled in Jordan sometime in the 6th century B.C. They set up a hub of commerce in the area around present-day Petra sometime in the 2nd century B.C. The region has excellent geographical positioning between Jerusalem, Amman, Syria, and the Red Sea. The Nabataeans quickly became wealthy traders as a result of their trading posts here. The first mention of “Petra” in historic records dates back to 312 B.C.

The golden age of Petra began in the 1st century B.C. and lasted until the middle of the 2nd century A.D., when the growing city was a major centre of trade and culture. Incense from Arabia, silk from China, and spices from India all passed through here. Soon the city grew as it prospered, and was home to 30,000 people. The Nabateans carved out impressive monuments and water management systems (cisterns), which represent most of the structures that have survived today. Eventually, the Romans invaded Petra in 106 A.D., taking the city after the surrender of the overwhelmed Nabateans. The city was renamed Arabia Petraea, and remained a territory of the Roman Empire for over 250 years. The Roman annexation of Petra is widely considered to be a turning point in the fortunes of Petra and the waning of its importance for international trade.

A powerful earthquake struck the city in 363 A.D., destroying many of the buildings and damaging the water cisterns. Around the same time, sea trading routes were also becoming more established. By A.D. 700, the city was only inhabited by handfuls of nomadic traders. Eventually, the city of Petra was largely forgotten by the outside world.

Notable monuments and structures

• the Siq – “the shaft” – A 1km gorge with steep walls over 80m tall. This is the main route into the city taken by most visitors
• El-Khazneh – “The Treasury” – Likely a Nabataean memorial/mausoleum
• The Palace Tomb – Three distinct storey façade. In front is a large “stage”, with a large courtyard or viewing area below. It is thought this may have been an area for funerals of important figures, or general ceremonies.
• The Deir – “The Monastery” – Nabataean temple with dining room
• Obelisk Tomb And Bab As-Siq Triclinium – An old tomb that also has a sitting/dining area below.
• Nabataean Theatre – While superficially looking like a Roman theatre, this is actually much older! There are numerous tombs carved into the walls surrounding it.

A “lost city” finding a place in the modern world

For centuries, Petra was lost and forgotten in the sands of time. Or at least, from the perspective of the outside world. Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, a Swiss scholar and explorer, is widely credited with “re-discovering” Petra in 1812. The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It is estimated that only 15% of Petra has been uncovered, and much more is still hidden underground awaiting excavation.

Finally, it would be hard to write an article about Petra without mentioning the obvious pop culture references. As you are probably aware, scenes from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade are set in Petra. The adventurous archaeologist enters the fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon (the Siq) that leads to the lost city.