Petra (from 'Petrae the Latin word meaning "rock") is located in a large rift valley east of Wadi Araba' in Jordan, about 80 kilometers south of the Dead Sea. It reached prominence at the end of the first century BC (BC) through the success of the spice trade. The city was the main city of ancient Nabatea and was famous above all for two things: its commerce and its hydraulic engineering systems. It was locally autonomous until the reign of Trajan, but it flourished under Roman rule.

Facade of the Treasury

The Treasure is the first of the many wonders found in Petra. You will need at least four or five days to get to know the city thoroughly. As you access the Petra Valley, the visitor will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this place and its impressive architecture. There are hundreds of elaborate tombs carved into the rock with complicated engravings that, unlike the houses, which were destroyed by the earthquake, were built to last all eternity and 500 have survived, empty, but irremediably captivating as they pass through their dark entrances.

Theater

There is also a large theater built by the Nabataeans. The theater is composed of 45 rows of seats divided horizontally by two "diazomatas" (elongated spaces that separate the stands in sections) and vertically by seven stairs that go through the auditorium.

The royal tombs

After the Amphitheater, going up to the right is the set called Royal Tombs of Al Khubthah, which was built to house a Nabataean royal family.

The group is divided into four sections: the Tomb of the Urn, the Tomb of Silk, the Tomb of Corinth and the Tomb of the Palace.

Tomb of the Urn

The staircase of the lower part leads to the Tomb of the Urn, also called "The Court" (Al Makhamah) because it did filing and court functions. It has been suggested that this is the tomb of the Nabatean king Malchus II, who died in the year 70.

Tomb of the Silk

To the side is the Tomb of the Silk, denominated thus by the color of the veined sandstone. In fronton of the facade with four attached pilasters, it is topped by the Assyrian influence staircase that is found in many tombs of Petra. The facade is characterized by horizontal stripes in colors ranging from white to blue and red to salmon or gray .

Tomb of Corinth

The Tomb of Corinth is the following, because of the similarity of its columns with the Greek Corinthian columns. Presents a structure in two floors with different styles. The low level is Hellenistic style with Nabataean influence. The upper level is quite reminiscent of the Treasury, although much more affected by erosion.

Tomb of the Palace

Finally, there is the Tomb of the Palace, with three different levels on its façade. Its name comes from having three levels just like a palace. The facade has three orders with columns and superimposed pillars, of lower height in the high part, to give a sensation of depth. The ground floor has 4 portals framed with pilasters and triangular pediments. The intermediate plant has 18 attached columns. The upper floor, very deteriorated, repeats the same pattern. The third level was built with sillar stone and not excavated in the rock.

Tomb of Sextus Florentinus

The Tomb of Sextus Florentinus, is a little apart from the others, we must continue and go down to the right. It is a funerary monument in memory of Sexto Florentino, who was governor of the province of Arabia in the year 127 AD. Sixth Florentino died during his rule in the province and adopted the traditional use of the local aristocracy in his funeral monument. His children built the tomb in 130 AD.

The Monastery of Petra

The monastery was built by the Nabateans in the 1st century in honor of Obodas I after his death, either as a tomb, as a temple or both; although it is thought that, later, in the Byzantine era, it was used as a church. In addition, formerly, the climb to Ad-Deir was done as a procession and the open area in front of the monument was the meeting place.