For me, this visit to Petra is the highlight of the trip. I learned about Petra in an Art History course I took years ago and it fascinated me. Basel had us gathered in the hotel lobby by 8 am. The entrance to Petra is right across the way from the hotel so we headed over.
Petra is more than two thousand years old – built by the Nabataeans in the Shara Mountains. These mountains are made basically of sandstone – perfect for sculpting. The area is chock full of tombs that have been cut into the cliffs. Many of these are heavily decorated – depending on the wealth of the family constructing them. Because this area was central to the trade routes, visitors from all directions passed through but it is the impressively carved structures that grab your attention. The Obelisk Tomb dates back to the 1st century AD and is the resting place for five members of a wealthy family.
There is a narrow gorge about 1.5 km long with water channels on either side and a roadway with ancient paving stones. Along this route can be found a dam built by the Nabataeans to divert flash floodwater from Petra.
The gorge opens out into the main part of Petra dominated by the Treasury – a three story facade with tombs beneath the main level, a temple sporting tall Corinthian columns, and above the temple is an intricately carved urn surrounded by two more structures containing carvings of mythological figures. It is very impressive.
We strolled from the Treasury plaza along the way past the Street of Facades – a whole series of Nabataean tombs all of varying amounts of decorations. Eventually we came to the Theatre – carved steeply into one side of the cliffs – accommodating 4000 people.
Above the theatre is the High Place of Sacrifice with a number of stairways leading up to it. It is a place of worship used for important religious ceremonies.
By the time we got to the theatre most of the group had reached their limit of heat and trekking so they turned around to head back to the place where you could catch an electric cart to take you back to the start. Jan and Lucy and I chose to trek a bit further and were rewarded with a view of the incredible Royal Tombs. By the time the three of us had turned around and trekked back to the start where we were to eat lunch we were pretty hot, tired and ready for a cold beer.
Jan and I chose to forego a trip to Little Petra (more of the same kind of monuments and tombs) to rest a bit and catch up on laundry.
After supper Lis, Jim, Jody, Jan and I chose to trek back out to the Treasury to see a show lit by candles. The 2 kilometre trail out to Petra was lined by paper covered lights that looked like candles – a haunting effect. People gathered on stools facing the Treasury and we were entertained by first a native flutist and then a traditional violinist. Meanwhile a series of coloured lights lit up the Treasury facade.
