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Qasr al-Bint, Petra
Qasr al-Bint, one of the main temples in the Nabataean city of Petra (Jordan). It is located to the northwest of the Great Temple and is one of the best-preserved ancient structures surviving in Petra today. It was probably the cult centre of the city’s patron deity, the Nabataean deity Dushara ("Lord of the Shara Mountains"), used only by priests and dignitaries. Qasr al-Bint once stood 23 m high and consisted of a pronaos (vestibule), a naos (or chamber), and a tripartite adyton, which contained the cella, the most sacred part of the temple. It was probably built during the second half of the 1st century BCE.
Questions & Answers
Who built Petra?
- The sandstone city of Petra was built in the 3rd century BCE by the Nabataeans, an Arab Bedouin tribe indigenous to the region who established it as a trading post and accumulated significant wealth.
When did the Romans rule Petra?
- The Roman Empire expanded eastward and took over Petra in 106 CE during the reign of Emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 CE). The city became part of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea and became its capital.
What did Petra look like in ancient times?
- At its peak, 2,000 years ago, Petra was home to as many as 30,000 people, full of temples, theatres, lush gardens, tombs, luxurious Roman-style villas, and busy marketplaces brimming with exotic goods from India, Arabia, and Egypt.
When was Petra discovered?
- Petra had remained hidden from Western eyes for centuries until it was rediscovered on 22 August 1812 by Swiss traveller and orientalist Johannes Ludwig Burckhardt. His entry to Petra, in the disguise of an Arab traveller, was recorded in a vivid and detailed account, describing exactly where he went and what he saw.
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External Links
Petra – following hadrian photography
followinghadrianphotography.com
Petra - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
unesco.org
