Petra, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World is a representation of Jordan and therefore, Jordan’s most visited tourist attraction. Known as the Rose City due to the color of the stone or the Lost City as the site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, Petra is a place you need to see, to believe, that it is in fact real-life. UNESCO even described the historical and archaeological city as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”.
Here are some interesting facts to know about Petra
1. It's UNESCO World Heritage Site
Petra is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site that has “outstanding universal value” due to its functionality, preservation, and architecture. Its location in the desert means that the original inhabitants needed to creatively devise ways to get water and other resources to the city.
2. The Famous Treasury Is Actually A Graveyard
Despite what you’ve seen on the silver screen, Petra’s Treasury is not a looming maze of booby-trapped rooms designed to separate the righteous from the unworthy, but a relatively small area that is most likely a beautifully decorated graveyard.
Any buried treasure was likely removed long ago, but the Treasury facade itself is a gem, lovingly carved by the Nabataeans centuries ago.
3. Exploration Of Petra
Approximately only 15% of Petra has been explored by archaeologists, which therefore means that there is still plenty to be revealed.
4. The Royal Tombs
Petra is home to roughly 800 tombs, therefore known as the “Royal Tombs”, with the most renowned being The Treasury. The Treasury was originally built as a mausoleum and crypt, and is estimated to be over 2,000 years old.
5. Water System
It wouldn’t have been possible for Petra to exist if it had not been for the water channel system that was constructed to offer storage and supply for its people. As a result, there was apparently enough water to support the 30,000 citizens that are believed to have occupied Petra.
6. Films
The Mummy Returns, Indiana Jones, and the Last Crusade are the most noteworthy movies that were filmed at Petra. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade amplified awareness of Petra and therefore an increase of tourism to the site occurred.
7. Who Inhabited Petra
The area of Petra was inhabited in 3 different periods; the Edomites from 18th – 2nd century BC, the Nabateans from 2nd century – 106 BC, and the Romans from 106 – 395 BC. The remains left is mainly from the Nabateans period. The Nabateans were extremely skilled water engineers, traders, builders, and carvers.
8. It Was Destroyed By A Massive Earthquake
In A.D. 363, Petra was struck by a gigantic earthquake that leveled most of the city and ended its reign as a thriving and wealthy trading center. After the disaster, many residents of Petra left the area, and the city was lost to the ages.
9. It Honors the Sun
Like many peoples of the time, the Nabataeans worshiped the sun as a source of light and life, and Petra’s design reflects that reverence. Many of the city’s most sacred spaces are constructed to align with solar patterns, including solstices.
10. It’s One Of The New 7 Wonders Of The World
Petra is classified as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, along with the spectacular Incan city of Machu Picchu, India’s Taj Mahal, the Roman Colosseum, Mexico’s Chichén Itzá, the Great Wall of China, and Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue.
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