Like many cities, the history of Petra begins at the crossroads of trade routes. The path through the territory of present-day Jordan ran from Damascus to the Red Sea. The second road led from the Persian Gulf to Gaza. Travelers in Petra managed not only to exchange goods, but also to quench their thirst, to relax in the shade, which is so important during long walks in the desert. Petra could flourish until the Romans showed up, showing the sea route to the East.
Nevertheless, the city was attractive to many peoples, as evidenced by the buildings left by the ancient Romans (II century), Edomites (XVIII – II centuries BC); the Nabataeans (II century BC - II century AD); Arabs and Byzantines. 12th century for Petra was marked by the arrival of the Crusaders. After that, the city lost its former grandeur, and with it its significance. Therefore, buildings of a later period have not survived here.
But even this “motley” heritage of Petra, left here by different cultures, allows us to consider it one of the “seven wonders of the world”.
Petra today
The construction of Petra allowed Jordan to create an open-air museum here. The Siq Canyon became the place of visiting tourists. There is a building carved out of the rock. It is called Al-Khazneh, the name means "treasury". It dates back to the first century. And its name is evidenced by the stone vase that crowns it. Jewelry could be stored there.
Also here you can see typical Roman colonnades, many caves and crypts, which are also carved into the rock. In general, Petra is a Greek name, meaning “stone”. Jokingly, this place can be called the cradle of monolithic construction, as many houses here are carved out of monolithic rock boulders. Here you can also see an old water supply system. Residents of the city collected rainwater in tanks, then it came through pipes from local sources scattered 25 kilometers from the city. Therefore, there was no need for water here.
Surprisingly, during the construction of Al-Khazneh, the locals managed to send the river along a different channel so that it would not interfere with the temple. The project was ambitious as it contained a tunnel and several dams. Why it was decided to install the temple in the river bed is a mystery.
Today Petra is a living museum. Here you can ride a camel offered by a real Bedouin. He will teach you how to ride a "ship of the desert". Here you can also see the shepherds who drove goats to the source to drink. You can buy memorable souvenirs, by which you can understand what the history of Petra is briefly, and in fact it was formed, like everything else, over the centuries.
