Petra Jordan tourism attraction

Petra Jordan tourism attraction

Petra Jordan tourism attractions

Petra Jordan tourism attraction is the most famous destination for tourists from all over the world.

It became one of the Seven New Wonders of the World when it was chosen in 2007 by a vote of 100 million people.

Jordan has many tourist attractions as it passed through many eras such as the Islamic, Ottoman, the Nabataeans, Byzantines, and Romans which have left many immortalized traces in Jordan.

Therefore, in this article, we will tell you about the most important place which is petra that you can enjoy visiting in Jordan, but before that, we have to tell you important information about Petra.

What is the location of the Petra Jordan tourism attraction?

It is located in the Ma’an Governorate 225 km south of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Area: Petra covers an area of 264 km2

What is the meaning of “Petra”?

The name Petra was derived from the Greek word “petra” which means “rock” as it was engraved inside the rocks.

Petra Jordan tourism attraction win second place in the Seventh Wonders of the World!

Petra is one of the most important archaeological sites in Jordan and in the world because there is no parallel in the world. She recently won second place in the international competition of the new seven wonders of the world in 2007.

The ancient city of Petra competed with ten of the 21 international sites that entered the competition.

The Nabataeans carved the entire city into pink color rock, and it is more like a castle.

How was Petra discovered?

In the nineteenth century, the Swiss orientalist Johann Ludwig Burckhardt discovered Petra Jordan tourism attraction in 1812 AD.

Who built Petra? When was Petra built?

the Nabateans built Petra in the year 400 BC and made it their capital.

Who are the Nabataeans?

  • The Nabataeans are among the Arab tribes that migrated from Yemen to northern Arabia and settled in southern Jordan.
  • They established their kingdom and named their capital (Al-Raqim), which means the rock, which became known as (Petra) in Greek.

History of Petra

Petra was the capital of the Nabataean state and the most important city in their kingdom.

It gains economic importance due to its location between the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt.

At the beginning of the first century AD, the city of Petra became the center of trade again due to the constant wars between Egypt and Syria, as a result, the Nabataeans became wealthy and powerful enough to establish control over the region.

Petra Jordan tourism attraction

The Treasury of Petra Jordan tourism attraction

Petra Jordan tourism attraction
The treasury
  • It has another name which is “the Treasury of the Pharaoh”, located in the middle of the Petra archaeological reserve, and it is one of the most important archaeological landmarks in Jordan.
  • The mountain has been delicately carved out of the rock which turns pink when the sun’s rays fall on it.
  • The Nabatean king, Al-Harith IV built it as a tomb for him.
  • The reason for calling it the Treasury is because the people of the city believed that there was a treasure in the urn located at the top of the facade.
  • The safe consists of two floors:
  • The lower first floor contains 6 Corinthian columns with huge capitals, above which there are inscriptions.
  • The second floor has cylindrical columns that are shorter than the columns of the first floor.
  • The treasury also contains three rooms with drawings, geometric inscriptions, plants, and animals.

Al Siq in Petra Jordan tourism attraction

Petra Jordan tourism attraction
Al siq
  • It is the main entrance to Petra and its length reaches 1200 m, as it starts from the dam to the Treasury.
  • It has a water channel that reaches the eyes of Moses.
  • There are also many antique carvings.

The colonnade street

  • It is a street bearing a historical character, paved with a stone floor, in addition to the columns that surround it, and its width is 6 meters.
  • It also has stairs leading to the ancient market area of ​​the Nabataeans.

The Great Temple

  • The location of the great temple is south of Colonnade Street, and it is one of the largest landmarks of Petra.
  • The Nabataeans built it in the first century AD on a huge area of ​​about 7500 m.
  • It contains the main entrance and two cylindrical structures, then a high courtyard with three rows of columns.

Petra Palace

  • The other name for it was Qasr al-Bint, Petra, and is one of the most important tourist attractions in Arab countries and in Petra, Jordan.
  • The Petra Palace is distinguished as a separate building and is not carved out of the rocks like the rest of Petra’s monuments.
  • It was dedicated to the worship of the goddess Aphrodite.
  • It contains a courtyard decorated with benches and front antique columns and a marble staircase.

Royal tombs

  • It was a tomb of the Nabataean king Malik II and it became a church later in the Byzantine era.
  • like the rest of Petra’s ruins, the Nabataean carved it into the rock, and it consists of two floors.
  • The reason behind the name jar it has many jar drawings.

Mausoleum of the Nabataean Obelisks

  • It is located to the left of the road leading to the Siq.
  • Besides, it is a royal cemetery, with five tombs surmounted by a statue.
  • It consists of two floors with 4 obelisks in the ancient Egyptian style, and it is also in sandstone.

Petra Monastery

Petra Jordan tourism attraction
Al deir
  • Its facade contains many carvings of the ancient gods.
  • It consists of two floors, and the facade has ionic and circular columns.

Petra Museum

  • It is one of the most important tourist destinations for tourists in Jordan, moreover, it contains about 280 artifacts from different eras. In addition, it consists of five halls.

Wadi Musa

Petra Jordan tourism attraction
Wadi Musa
  • It is the valley in which our master Moses, peace be upon him, was in which 12 springs of water erupted, and that is why it has great religious and historical importance.
  • In addition contains many tourist facilities, hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

In conclusion, Petra is really a great wonder of the world that you must visit and enjoy the engraved rocks with ink colors. Jordan has become one of the main tourist destinations in the world after discovering Petra.

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