Petra

Also known as Raqmu, Petra, Jordan

Petra (; ), originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu ( or ), is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved. The city is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

AI overview

Petra is an ancient city in southern Jordan carved directly from rose-colored sandstone, famous for its distinctive rock-cut architecture and sophisticated water systems. It is recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Historic site.name: Petra ()
Historic site.location: Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
Historic site.locmapin: Jordan
Historic site.map_relief: 1
Historic site.built: Possibly as early as the 5th century BC
Historic site.visitation_num: 1,135,300
Historic site.visitation_year: 2019
Historic site.governing_body: Petra Region Authority
UNESCO World Heritage Site.child: yes
UNESCO World Heritage Site.ID: 326
UNESCO World Heritage Site.Year: 1985
UNESCO World Heritage Site.Criteria: Cultural: i, iii, iv
UNESCO World Heritage Site.Area: 26,171 ha

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Area: 26171
Elevation: 1350
Official website: www.visitpetra.jo
Image: The Treasury, Petra, Jordan5.jpg

Show 7 more facts

Commons gallery: Petra
Commons category: Petra, Jordan
inception: 0800-00-00
P8168: Mia May
P12749: Aisne
native label: Πέτρα
visitors per year: 1142000

Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

~39 min read

Article

31 sections

Contents

History
Neolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age Edom
Emergence of Petra
Roman period
Byzantine period
Crusaders and Mamluks
19th and 20th centuries
21st century
Layout
Hellenistic architecture
City centre
High Place of Sacrifice
Royal Tombs
Exterior platform
Geostrategic importance
Religious importance
Nabataean religion
Late Roman and Byzantine-period Christianity
Early Muslim and Crusader periods
Traditional connection to Moses, Aaron and Miriam
Climate
Conservation
Popular culture
"Rite of passage" of the Israeli youth
Gallery
See also
Notes
Bibliography
External links

The area around Petra has been inhabited from as early as 7000 BC, and was settled by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab people, in the 4th century BC. Petra would later become the capital city of the Nabataean Kingdom in the second century BC. The Nabataeans invested in Petra's proximity to the incense trade routes by establishing it as a major regional trading hub, which gained them considerable revenue. Unlike their enemies, the Nabataeans were accustomed to living in the barren deserts and thus were able to defend their kingdom. They were particularly skillful in agriculture, stone carving, and rainwater harvesting.