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The Treasury of Petra From Above
The so-called Treasury (Khazneh) in Petra, Jordan. The Treasury's rock-cut, two-storied façade is 24.9 m wide and almost 40 m high and strongly embodies the Hellenistic style and reflects the influence of Alexandria. Both stories are embellished in the Corinthian order and are elaborately decorated with friezes, sculptured figures, vegetation and motifs related to the afterlife and death. The so-called Treasury was a tomb, surely the last resting place of a king. The tomb was probably constructed in the 1st century BCE for King Aretas IV (r. 9 BCE to 40 CE).
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
