Temple in the ancient city of Petra Jordan. What to visit in Jordan (attractions). Church of the Apostles, Madaba

When Moses had inaccessible mountains on his way that he had to overcome, the patriarch hit the rocks with his staff - and they parted. Since the staff was crooked, the road turned out to be winding. Therefore, in our time, tourists who want to see the unique sights of Petra are forced to descend into the deep Siq gorge through a narrow paved tunnel, the width of which in some places does not exceed three meters along the rocks that almost completely hide the sky. Bas-reliefs are carved on these rocks, and along the path there is an ancient water trench through which water flowed to the ancient city of Petra.

The city of Petra is located in Jordan, 100 km from the Arabian Gulf, in a mountainous area, at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. m., in a valley completely surrounded by rocks, on the eastern side of Mount Gor (on the geographical map it can be found at the following coordinates: 30° 19′ 44″ N, 35° 26′ 25″ E).

The city is notable for the fact that many of the buildings in it - residential buildings, temples, treasury, tombs, amphitheater, monasteries - are completely carved into the rocks.

These buildings are so beautiful and elegant that they represent a real work of art.

At the moment, more than 800 attractions have been discovered on the territory of the ancient settlement - and this despite the fact that scientists claim that only fifteen percent of the ancient city of Petra has been surveyed. As a result of a worldwide vote, the city in the rock was included in the list of the new seven wonders of the world.

How the city appeared

The history of this unique city began back in the 4th-3rd millennium BC, when the Nabateans, representatives of the Semitic people leading a nomadic lifestyle, decided to settle here. They chose the place for their settlement extremely carefully: accustomed to constant battles and the struggle for life, they decided to build their capital in a remote mountainous area.

The valley, located in the Siq canyon, suited them best, since the city could only be reached through a single narrow gorge. From a defensive point of view, this was an ideal solution: even famous Roman commanders constantly failed here and, unable to penetrate the city, were forced to lift the siege.

Petra also turned out to be very well located from the point of view of trade (this can be seen by carefully looking at the map), since it was here that two trade routes intersected: the first connected the Red Sea with Damascus, the second - Gaza with the Persian Gulf.

Thus, Petra was an ideal resting place for caravans laden with goods, which traveled from different parts of the world and were forced to cross the harsh and hot Arabian desert. In the capital of the Nabateans, tired travelers found shelter, food, water and trade.

It was trade that made the city extremely successful and prosperous for many centuries - until the Romans discovered easier sea routes to the east, and the need for caravans disappeared, because of which trade came to naught and the history of the city of Petra gradually came to an end .

Construction of Petra

Since the city was built both near and in the rock itself, the builders definitely had a hard time. Therefore, there is no doubt that in order to build such structures, they had to have considerable knowledge and skills: the ancient masters managed to create buildings that were absolutely not inferior in either decoration or architecture to Greek and Roman landmarks.

One cannot help but be surprised by the water supply system that the builders provided Peter with: about two hundred tanks were installed here that collected and stored rainwater. Water was supplied here using terracotta pipes from all sources located within a radius of twenty kilometers.

Despite the hot climate and waterless terrain, the inhabitants of Petra did not feel the need for water (if the architects had not managed to think through this point well, the capital would not have existed for long).

What does Petra look like?

One of the amazing features of the ancient city is that the rocks, consisting mainly of red sandstone, constantly change their appearance depending on the light, so Petra looks completely different every time in the same place, trying on all the shades throughout the day red (thanks to this, Petra received another name - the Pink City).

Petra was a large city: from the central square, where the ruins of various buildings (not carved into the rock, but erected in the usual way) are very well preserved, the highway stretches for several more kilometers from west to east. In the west, the road ends at the Ed-Deir monastery, carved into the rock, the height and width of which are about 50 meters (the fact that it was once a Christian church is indicated by the crosses carved on the walls).

Currently, archaeologists have discovered more than eight hundred different attractions in the city, for which tourists from all over the world come here:

• Temples, among which the most famous is the “Cathedral”, a building decorated with mosaics and decorated with marble slabs. Several administrative reports written on papyrus dating back to the 6th century were discovered here. AD;
• An amphitheater carved into the rock, seating more than 6 thousand spectators and located so that the main tombs of the city can be seen;
• Palaces, tombs and crypts carved into the rocks. Among them, the tomb of Aaron was even discovered, which was built in the 13th century. by order of the Mamluk Sultan. He was not at all embarrassed by the fact that Moses’ brother, in whose honor he was building the tomb, lived several thousand years before this event;
• But the most significant and eye-catching attraction, which is a real wonder of the world, is without a doubt El Hezneh.

El Khazneh

For what purpose exactly in the 1st century. AD a temple was carved into the rock, the height of which was 40 m and the width - 25 m, it is not completely clear, although hypotheses, of course, exist. For example, one of the most likely versions says that El Khazneh was the tomb of the Nabatean king Aref IV Philopatra.

There is also another interesting version that this could be the temple of Isis. There are other, more incredible assumptions, for example, according to one legend, the pharaoh once kept his treasures in El Khazn, and according to another myth, robbers who attacked caravans hid loot in the temple.

The architecture of Al Khazneh, in any case, testifies to the high level of skill of local architects: a miracle of this scale is difficult to create even today. What is surprising is not only the greatness of the idea and the accuracy of the calculations, but also how it was possible to knock out such a tall building in the rock, when there are absolutely no trees in the area from which scaffolding could be made.

The building itself looks magnificent: there are six columns at the entrance to Al Khazneh, and the building itself is decorated with magnificent bas-reliefs. The most mysterious decoration is at the very top: the temple is crowned with a huge stone pot.

Why exactly it needed to be created there surprises many, but the Bedouins are convinced that ancient treasures are hidden in it, and if a successful shot is made, the lucky one will be showered with gold and stones (for this purpose they even once shot him, but, of course, to no avail).

When is the best time to go to Petra?

Despite the fact that Petra is characterized by a hot and dry climate, before deciding to travel you should check the weather forecast and take into account the time of year. For example, December and January are the coldest and rainiest months, which are characterized by a large temperature difference (during the day it can be +15°C, at night +3°C).

It is worth rescheduling the trip if weather forecasters promise showers, because in this case the precipitation is so heavy that rescuers often have to evacuate tourists, as a real flood begins in the valley.

If you plan to visit this wonder of the world in the summer, then you should definitely remember to take a Panama hat and sunglasses with you, and don’t forget about water.

It should be borne in mind that hot and dry air can sometimes cause bleeding from the nose, so to avoid such a nuisance, experts recommend taking petroleum jelly or an ointment based on it with you and lubricating the inner surface of the nostrils with it to prevent bleeding. Jordan

(Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) is an Arab state located in the Middle East. The main part of the country's area is occupied by deserts, hills and mountains, where there is practically no vegetation.

At the same time, the food, textile, oil refining and tobacco industries are developing well in it, phosphates are mined, and cement is made. Jordan also represents scientific and cultural center of the entire Middle East

, it has more than forty large educational institutions, including those with a military profile. And unique ancient monuments and resorts attract a huge number of tourists here. This country is considered very friendly towards visiting guests of any nationality and religion.

Geographical position The location is western part of Asia

• , in the south it is washed by the Red Sea. Its boundaries are defined as follows: In the northern part -;
• Syria In the northeastern part -;
• In the eastern and southern parts - Saudi Arabia;
• In the western part - Israel And Palestinian Authority.

Due to the peculiarities of the geographical location in Jordan, mainly warm and dry weather.

At any time of the year, the water temperature in the Red and Dead Seas ranges from twenty to twenty-two degrees.

Sights of Jordan on the map

Jordan can be called unique country, which has about twenty thousand ancient monuments, many of which were built in the Neolithic era. At the same time, they are surprisingly combined with modern buildings.

Petra

Petra is very unusual rock city, a mention of which is still in the Bible, and its construction still holds many mysteries. Due to the reddish-pink color of the rocks, it is often called the “pink city”. It is believed that this is where Moses extracted water from the rocks.

The river that flows in Petra is called Wadi Musa (River of Moses). According to the research, we can say that the construction of the city began more than two thousand years ago, and initially it was miraculously carved out of the rocks.

Its history is rich in various events and well-preserved ancient buildings made it possible to include Petra in UNESCO World Heritage List. Also at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was recognized as one of new seven wonders of the world.

The beginning of the journey through the rock city is entrance to a narrow gorge, surrounded by very high cliffs.

There is no sunlight entering the gorge, and without additional lighting, movement proceeds in complete darkness.

Then the path becomes a little brighter, and you can already see the niches that were carved into the rocks to house the statues.

The exit from the tunnel usually occurs in the bright light of the sun, and a large building with two names catches the eye - Al Khazneh And Pharaoh's Treasury.

It is believed that the construction of Al-Khazneh was the second century AD. It is unknown what it was intended for at that time, but it is assumed that it was temple or mausoleum.

The mystery is and how the ancient masters managed to build such a magnificent building. According to modern experts, this requires the use of scaffolding. But it was almost impossible to find building material in those places.

It is assumed that the builders moved up the ruins in the rocks, but it is not clear how they managed to work on weight. Also remains a mystery how the calculations for the buildings were carried out.



• Beyond Al-Khazneh, the tunnel gradually expands, and it becomes visible old rock city. Here you can see a large number of stone houses, markets, entertainment venues and other buildings.
• Here you can also find Ed-Deir Temple, located at the very top of the rock, and is also a valuable architectural monument. In front of it is a large square, which was apparently used for various religious ceremonies.

• Nearby there is a three-story building Roman Palace (Palace Tomb).

  The lower part of the Roman palace was carved into the rocks, and blocks of cut stones were already used to build the upper part.

  The lower tier is a large room in which sacred holidays were held and the dead were venerated. Tourists can not only examine the exterior of the building, but also go inside.

  In addition to the above historical monuments, Petra also has a huge number of interesting buildings, starting from the very first ones, which were roughly executed by ancient craftsmen, and those that were erected by ancient masters. Apparently, this is why the rock city attracts a huge number of tourists every year who want to see great works of art.

  Aqaba

  

  Aqaba- This is the only seaside resort and port of Jordan, since the country has the only small access to the Red Sea. According to scientific data, the first settlements appeared here six thousand years ago.

  Tourists love it very much Red sea, which is distinguished by clean and very salty water, which allows swimming even for those who are just starting to learn it. The diversity of the underwater world is also attractive.

  Through the crystal water you can admire various types of fish, corals and other marine life.

  • Of the architectural attractions of Aqaba, the main one is considered Mamluk fortress, built in the sixteenth century. Its location is the seashore, and it is surrounded on all sides by beautiful, tall palm trees. Not far from the fortress there is a museum where you can learn about the history of the city.
  • The next most important historical monument of Aqaba can be called Lot's cave, which is a monastery complex. It also houses a Byzantine church and a small number of tombs.

  Amman

  

  Amman is the capital of Jordan and its largest city. Initially, seven hills were chosen for its construction, symbolized by a seven-pointed star on the country’s flag.

  Today the city is located already on ten hills, whose slopes are decorated with white houses and villas, which is why Amman is also called "White City". White stones (limestone) are used for the construction of buildings. Houses are built very quickly and have a wide variety of shapes.

  Amman is one of the country's most important industrial centers with an international airport.

  The main attraction of the city can be called Jebel Al-Qalaa (Fortress Mountain). It is famous for monuments from various times, the most valuable of which are the colonnade of the Temple of Hercules, the Al-Qasr Palace, the Byzantine church and the ancient amphitheater, designed for more than six thousand people.

  1. Jordanian archaeological museum;
  2. Jordanian Museum of Folk Traditions;
  3. Folklore Museum;
  4. Archaeological Museum University of Jordan;
  5. Anthropological Museum University of Jordan;
  6. Museum of Numismatics;
  7. Royal Motor Museum.

  Nature lovers can admire it at the nearby Mujib Nature Reserve. It was founded in 1987 in the Wadi Mujib gorge. On its western side there is the Dead Sea, and on the eastern side there are mountain ranges.

  Here you can see more than four hundred species of plants, some of which are very rare. Also lives here ten species of animals And about one hundred and fifty species of birds, many of which need protection.

  When going to distant countries, find out about the symptoms of acclimatization, because this trouble can overtake you completely unexpectedly.

  Dead Sea

  

  The Dead Sea, located between Israel and Jordan, is actually considered salty closed lake, whose age is about fifteen thousand years. This is a unique place, being the lowest point on Earth.

  Thanks to the specific composition of its water, it has become a unique healing place, which a huge number of people from all over the world want to visit.

  Also from its bottom special healing mud, which have a special therapeutic effect, no analogues have been found. For the convenience of vacationers, in addition to resorts, there are hotels and other tourist facilities on the shores of the Dead Sea.

  Due to too high concentration of salts in the Dead Sea there is no vegetation, no fish, no other inhabitants, except for archaeobacteria, thanks to which therapeutic mud is formed.

  You won't find it on the lake shore either. no trees, no grass, since the soil is covered with a salt crust. But in such salty water you simply cannot drown, but you can rest peacefully, just lying on your back or stomach, and at the same time get healthier.

Jordan is an Arab kingdom in the Middle East, considered the safest and most civilized of the Arab countries. There are many unique historical monuments, impressive landscapes, access to the Dead Sea and the excellent resort town of Aqaba. Let's take a look at the best attractions in Jordan. There will be photos and descriptions too :). I counted nine of the most important attractions, but of course there are many more.

A map with the sights of Jordan will be at the end of the article.

9. Aqaba

Aqaba, with its idyllic setting and warm climate, is one of the region's top resorts. The city is located on the shores of the Red Sea, surrounded by the medieval city of Ayla. Aqaba is home to pristine sandy beaches, diverse marine life and excellent hotels with world-class amenities. Of course, the main entertainment in Aqaba is diving. After all, this is the Red Sea, with its coral reefs and fish of all colors of the rainbow.

Resort holidays in Jordan are expensive, but surprisingly, last year in November and early December, Russian tour operators offered very interesting prices for holidays in Aqaba. You just need to know when to go to this country. Let me remind you that Russians do not need a visa to Jordan; more precisely, they issue one immediately upon arrival for 30 days, which is especially pleasant.

Aqaba borders Eilat (Israel). Just 15 km and you are already in another country. I think it’s a good idea to visit two countries in one trip.

8. Jerash

Located a few tens of kilometers from Amman, the city of Jerash is the second most popular destination in Jordan. This is a very ancient city, whose history goes back thousands of years. Jerash boasts Roman heritage and attractions such as Hadrian's Arch, the Hippodrome and the Jerash Archaeological Museum.

Every year (in July) a large festival of culture and art is held in Jerash, which attracts connoisseurs from all over the world. The festival lasts for two whole weeks and amazes with its scope.

7. Dead Sea

Located on the border of Palestine and Jordan, the Dead Sea is a mesmerizing natural phenomenon and the lowest point on the surface of the planet. The sea has an incredible level of salinity. The Jordan Valley includes only a small part of the sea, but this does not prevent you from enjoying all its beneficial properties, relaxing at one of the resorts and admiring the beautiful sunsets.

The Dead Sea coast on the Jordan side is literally strewn with hotels of all different classes. Popular resorts: Amman Touristic Beach, O Beach, Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea (in the Swaymekha area), Dead Sea Spa Hotel - a large complex.

6. Dana

Comprising many granite and sandstone cliffs, Dana Nature Reserve is the largest in the country. The location is ideal for hiking and photography due to its sweeping canyons and spectacular valleys. Be sure to stock up on your camera and you will be guaranteed fantastic pictures.

There are several exciting routes (from 1 to 6 hours) throughout the reserve. Travelers can come here for a few days and stay in a tourist camp or campsite.

5. Madaba

Madaba is a small town 40 km from Amman. The main value of Madaba is the grandiose mosque and mosaics from the Umayyad and Byzantine eras. The most famous mosaics are the map of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Surprisingly, Madaba is the only Christian city in Jordan.

If you are planning to come to Madaba for a few days, then be sure to visit the hot waterfalls of the Hammamat Main resort.

4. Wadi Rum

Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum is Jordan's largest desert and features breathtaking peach-colored sand dunes. Travelers will definitely be fascinated by the unique colors and lunar landscapes of the place. You can explore the region on an off-road vehicle or camels, and spend the night in a camp admiring the countless stars.

You can go to the “sandbox” (as the locals affectionately call Wadi Rum) on a guided tour for 30 euros. The excursion in Russian “” starts from Aqaba. The drive is only an hour, but it is better to go to the desert in spring or autumn. This is the most pleasant time for a walk. The duration of the excursion is 3 hours.

3. El Mujib

The El Mujib or Arnon River is one of the most remarkable features of the country. Around the river, in the Wadi Mujib area, there is a reserve that is the lowest in the world - it is located at a depth of 500 meters. The place has stunning scenery and biodiversity. A visit to the reserve will be interesting for all active travelers.

2. Amman

Amman is the cultural, political and financial capital of Jordan and one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. The city is full of historical and modern attractions.

On a hill above the modern city are the ruins of the Citadel, including the Temple of Hercules, Byzantine churches and Roman theaters. Travelers should also explore the city's traditional markets, especially those who enjoy authentic oriental products.

1. Petra

Ancient Petra - the pearl of Jordan! Considered the country's best attraction, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra was lost for centuries and rediscovered at the beginning of the 19th century. The archaeological park contains many amazing monuments, including a treasury, a Roman theater, a monastery, as well as countless burial halls, temples and gates.

“Petra” literally means “stone,” and indeed, the entire city was hewn from stone by its patient inhabitants. It is better to come to Petra for two days to thoughtfully and with pleasure see all its treasures. If you don’t have much time, it is better to book a tour in Russian in advance. With "" in 4 hours you will get acquainted with all the sights of Petra and listen to an interesting story from the guide. Please note that there are additional costs (transport and tickets).

There are two international airports in Jordan - in Aqaba (named after King Hussein) and Amman (named after Queen Alia). Aqaba is designed for resort tourism and is more suitable for those who come to Jordan to relax on the Red Sea. From Aqaba you can go to Petra and Wadi Rum.

Amman Airport is the country's main air gateway. It is more suitable for travelers who want to improve their health on the shores of the Dead Sea, as well as for hunters of historical attractions. Local airlines fly between the two cities; travel time is only 1 hour. The cost of a one-way flight is about 4,500 rubles. A round trip ticket will be cheaper.

The ancient city of Petra is rightfully considered the main attraction of Jordan, which made this eastern country famous throughout the globe, and one of the 7 new wonders of the world! In this article, you will learn in detail why this place is so popular with hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting Jordan every year.

Maybe someone remembers the old film about Indiana Jones, in which he was looking for the Grail - there was a huge temple carved into the rock =) It turns out that it was not scenery, but such a miracle really exists - in Petra!

Ancient Nabataean city Petra was founded in these rocks about 4 thousand years ago (according to other sources - 2 millennia), back in the era of the Edomites - then a small but well-defended fortress was built in the rocks. Later, these lands came into the possession of the Nabatean kingdom, which was just at that time experiencing its heyday. Petra, which served as the capital of the kingdom, gradually acquired enormous influence and unprecedented popularity. The emergence of a city in such an inaccessible place became possible thanks to the ability of the Nabateans to control the flow of water, because in essence Petra is nothing more than an artificial oasis! Flash floods are common in this area, and the Nabataeans successfully controlled them using dams, cisterns and aqueducts, which allowed them not only to survive long periods of drought, but also to successfully trade water

In addition to the fact that the Nabateans knew how to skillfully collect water, they also learned how to skillfully process stone. The name “Petra” literally translates as “Rock”, and it is not surprising - after all, the entire ancient city consists entirely of stone!

However, the Nabatean kingdom fell under the onslaught of the Roman emperor Trajan, and then the Roman Empire itself disappeared into oblivion... Since the 16th century AD, only the wind has “walked” here, and then infrequently. This pearl among the rocks was forgotten for more than 2 centuries - until the moment in 1812, the Swiss traveler-adventurer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt decided to find in these lands a lost city, about which there were many legends, but which, despite this, no one never saw. As a result, the Swiss finally found the legendary lost city, carefully protected by sands and rocks!

All the buildings of Petra were built mainly in three periods: under the Edomites (XVIII-II centuries BC), the Nabataeans (II century BC - 106 BC) and the Romans (106-395 AD). .). In the 12th century, the ancient city was ruled by the crusading knights of the Teutonic Order. Monuments built here after the 6th century AD have practically not reached us. Therefore, the appearance of Petra, which is revealed to the eyes of tourists today, is the ancient capital of the Nabataean kingdom

An interesting fact is that the territory of Petra is currently only 15% studied, so it is possible that soon the mysteries of the ancient city may amaze the whole world! Now imagine that this 15% is about 800 (!) different historical sites on the territory of Petra!

Because of such a huge number of centuries-old attractions, even tickets here are sold for a three-day period - after all, in a day you can only briefly examine all the currently known “treasures” of Petra, but to get acquainted in detail with all its architectural elements, not even a month is enough!

Petra makes an impression on all tourists who come here - even the most sophisticated ones, and I think this is connected to a greater extent not so much with the ancient city itself, but with the road that leads to it - after all, the city is “hidden” in the very center of the rock! In order to get to Petra, you need to go down into a deep gorge called “Sik” (“Mine”), formed as a result of a prehistoric shift of the earth’s crust, and walk for a long time along a narrow path (in some places only 3-4 meters wide) on at its bottom, between steep 80-meter cliffs, on which here and there there are ancient inscriptions carved in stone and even entire niches carved into the limestone for rest. At some point, it begins to seem that you will have to walk along this gorge forever, but suddenly it ends abruptly and the enormous Treasury of Pharaoh (the Arabic name is El-Khazneh, from which the word “Treasury” later came) opens to your eyes - one of the most famous monuments of ancient Petra, in front of which the ant-people froze in surprise...

Gradually, the state of numbness recedes and is replaced by surprise and disbelief that such a huge thing can be carved into the rock. The purpose of Al-Khazneh, carved into the rock around the 2nd century AD, is still unclear, but many historians and archaeologists believe that it was originally a temple to the goddess Isis

In any case, the Treasury is an example of the greatest skill of ancient architects. After all, even today such a structure would be very difficult to create, not to mention how accurate the calculations must be and how it was hollowed out of stone in the first place, if there is not a single tree for scaffolding around for hundreds of kilometers!

It is also surprising that after thousands of years, the facade of the Treasury turned out to be practically untouched - see for yourself!

Monument to the Pyramids at the entrance to the Siq gorge

Before entering Petra, you can purchase a detailed map of the city and decide for yourself whether to wander through the most mysterious nooks and crannies in splendid isolation or hire a guide

The map shows: 1 - Entrance; 2 - Al-Wuheira; 3 - Beginning of the Siq gorge; 4 - “Treasury of the Pharaohs”; 5 - Place of sacrifices; 6 - Theater; 7 - Urn Tomb or “Cathedral”; 8 - Tomb of Sextus Florentinus; 9 - “Nympheum”; 10 - Church; 11 - Temple of Winged Lions; 12 - Great Temple; 13 - Temple of Uzza; 14 - Archaeological Museum; 15 - Lion Triclinium (Roman dining room); 16 - El Deir Monastery

The ancient city extends for several kilometers. The main street is laid from east to west, decorated on the sides with a colonnade. At its eastern end there is a three-span triumphal arch, and at the western end there is a large temple

Early necropolis of the Nabateans

One of the main architectural elements of Petra, along with the Treasury, is an ancient theater for 6000 spectators, entirely carved out of the rock and located so that from there one can see the most important tombs, including the “Cathedral”, the Palace Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb, the Urn Tomb and Silk Tomb

The theater was built in Petra at the beginning of the 1st century AD, almost at the same time with the majestic bulk of the El Deir monastery carved into the rock at the top of the cliff - a huge building about 50 m wide and more than 45 m high, which, judging by the carvings on the walls crosses, for some time served as a Christian church. It may seem familiar to many - most likely this is due to the fact that one of the scenes of the second Transformers film was filmed here =)

Maybe it’s more recognizable this way)

From the slope next to El Deir you can see Mount Jebel Harun with a white mosque on top - this relatively small and modestly decorated tomb of Aaron, the brother of Moses, was erected in the 13th century by the Mamluk Sultan. According to Arabic legends, Petra- exactly the place where Moses struck the stone with his staff and water flowed from it

To the right of the Theater is the entrance to the “Cathedral”. The inscription indicates that Bishop Jason converted the Doric Tomb into a Eucharistic Hall. The same inscription dates this transformation to 447 AD

Plan of the Church of Papyrus in the western part of the city

1 - Atrium; 2 - Baptistery; 3 - Basilica; 4 - Department; 5 - Altar; 6 - Papyrus's Room

View of the church from the altar

In the 90s during excavations. carried out by the American Center for Oriental Research, a vast building was discovered, decorated with beautiful mosaics. A number of administrative records written on papyrus and dating back to the sixth century AD were also discovered. The papyri are part of a private archive including contracts, leases, exchanges, wills, and various kinds of agreements. In the photo - a medallion with an image of Neptune

The floors of the nave and chancel are made of multi-colored marble tiles. Both passages are decorated with mosaics. The mosaic style belongs to the Gaza School, which is very different from the school of the Madaba School, mosaic examples of which were found in previous days. The photo shows the atrium of the church. The basilica was divided into three parts by two rows of columns

The Baptistery is located in a room adjacent to the atrium of the Church

Interior of the Temple of the Winged Lions

A Roman inscription from 114 AD on this monumental gate praises Emperor Trajan. The gate leads to the large courtyard of the Temple of Uzza (Qazr al-Bint)

Inner courtyard of the Great Temple of Petra. The floor is made of hexagonal marble slabs

Panoramic view of Qazr al-Bint and Umm al-Biyara peak. The Temple of Uzza was built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD

Arch in the facade of Qazr al-Bint

The Lion Triclinium got its name thanks to the lions “guarding” the entrance

It is also worth paying attention to the monumental tombstone structure in the Roman style, which received the simple name of the Tombstone Palace. Another interesting place is the Archaeological Museum of Petra, which contains the shadow of the history of the development, formation and decline of these lands. In the photo there are a couple of exhibits from the museum - a fragment of a capital sculptured in the shape of an elephant found in the Great Temple, and the head of an eagle

Couldn’t they travel [study the history of past centuries and millennia, and then visit the preserved monuments, capitals of states and civilizations that once flourished and crushed any enemy], having at the same time understanding hearts and hearing ears?!

It is not people’s eyes that go blind, but their hearts that are in their chests [they do not heed the lessons of the past in the present, they do not try to understand them. Their whole life is a run from nowhere to nowhere along a narrow path of stereotypes and personal interpretations, subjective conclusions].*

Holy Koran 22:46

Impressed?

Then let's reveal our cards a little.

So, Petra (Arabic: البتراء‎‎) - ancient city, capital Edomites (Edom), later the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Located on the territory of modern Jordan, at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level and 660 m above the surrounding area, the Arava Valley, in the narrow Siq canyon.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan or Jordan - an Arab state in the Middle East. It borders with Syria in the north, Iraq in the northeast, Saudi Arabia in the east and south, and Israel and Palestine in the west. Jordan shares the coastlines of the Dead Sea with Israel and Palestine and the Gulf of Aqaba with Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

About 90% of the kingdom's territory is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts.

Jordan's most famous landmark is , the city we are interested in Petra , located 262 kilometers south of Amman, and 133 kilometers north of Aqaba in the Wadi Musa valley.

The ancient city is the property of the Bedouins, who manufacture and sell souvenirs on the territory of the museum, and also offer rides on horses or camels. In place of the current one Petra was the first fortified settlement, called " Sela" — "stone, rock". Later this name was translated into Greek - Petra ("stone").

Petra - the capital of the Nabataean kingdom and one of the most beautiful and well-preserved ancient cities. Petra is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the new wonders of the world. In ancient times, Petra was located on the trade route connecting the Middle East, Arabia and India.

Historians believe that the city was built by the Nabateans, Arab tribes of nomads who settled on these lands in the 3rd millennium BC. Petra's appearance owes much to Greco-Roman culture, which the Nabataeans adapted to their needs. Beginning with a few easily defended caves in the rocks, Petra gradually grew into an impregnable fortress city. The lands of the former Nabatean kingdom and Peter were completely forgotten in the West.

The first modern European to see and describe Petra was the Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.

The very location of Petra is surprising, namely the mountains, which, depending on the time of day, change their color from dark red to pink and even orange.

Getting to the ancient city is not so easy; you will have to cover several kilometers on foot: first go down and then climb back through Siq gorge. From the east and west the cliffs drop steeply, forming natural walls up to 80 m in height.

Here is a description of this path, made in the 70s: “The path to the city lies through this passage. Its length is about 1.2 km, and its width is from 4 to 10 meters or more. The spectacle is truly unforgettable: reddish and brownish rocks up to 80 m high hang on both sides; A strip of sky is blue above, coarse gravel and sand rustle underfoot, and it smells of dampness and mold. The Romans failed to take Petra for several years; its inhabitants, blocking the only narrow passage leading to the fortified city, could hold back an entire army with small forces...

Walking down the aisle- both on the right and on the left above my head are these cut up, gnawed stones of red color. During the rainy season, this gorge turns into a rapid, turbulent stream. The road is decorated with the remains of an ancient pavement and rock bas-reliefs, and along the edges, like a railing, a water trench meanders, delivering water to Petra.

The beginning of the gorge through which you can get to Petra itself

Already approaching the exit from the gorge, we freeze in amazement: through the hole in the dark corridor, about fifty meters from its end, a pink building illuminated by the sun with columns and an elegant pediment is clearly visible. A few more minutes of patience and in front of us is one of the monumental tombs of Petra... What is most striking is that it is a solid stone mass without any additions.

It opens around the corner El Khazneh- a majestic building with a facade carved from a huge rock. It is one of the best preserved structures from the first century. The building is crowned by a huge stone urn, which supposedly contained gold and precious stones - hence the name of the temple (translated from Arabic as “treasury”).

The interior of one of the “rooms” of El Khazneh.

Here you can clearly see that all this was carved out of a solid stone mass.

Once around the rock and the Al-Khazneh Palace, you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of rock-cut buildings, temples, tombs, small and large residential buildings, tombs and festive halls, long staircases, arches and cobbled streets. A little lower, a huge Roman amphitheater carved from stone, which once accommodated more than 4 thousand spectators.

High in the mountains above the city there is a sacred place of worship of the gods, from where a stunning panorama of Petra opens up - an amphitheater, a Byzantine church and tombs of the kings, Roman colonnades, the mausoleum of Aaron, and the main temple of the Nabateans - Qazr al-Bint.

Here is a list of the most interesting of them: El-Khazneh ("Treasury", the tomb of one of the Nabatean kings), Ad-Deir ("Monastery"), Sakhrij ("Djinn's Blocks"), "Obelisk Tomb", "Facade Square", sacred Mount Jebel Al-Madbah ("Mountain of Sacrifice"), "Royal Tombs", Mugar An-Nasar ("Caves of the Christians"), Theatre, Byzantine church behind the ruins of the Nymphaeum, Al-Uzza Atargatis ("Temple of the Winged Lions"), Qasr Al -Bint (“Palace of the Pharaoh’s Daughter”, although the pharaohs, naturally, have nothing to do with this building), etc.

The city has two archaeological museums: the old (in Mount Jebel Al-Habis) and the new, with excellent collections, as well as many monuments identified with biblical chronicles - the Wadi Musa valley itself ("Valley of Moses"), Mount Jebel Harun (Mount of Aaron , where, according to legend, the high priest Aaron died), the source of Ain Musa (“The Source of Moses”), etc.

Petra was called a “nest of robbers”, “bloody stones”, “cursed place”, “city of evil spirits”, “ghost city”, “city of bloody altars”, “city of the dead”.

The territory of Petra occupies a large area. From the center, where the ruins of numerous buildings are well preserved, no longer rock-built, but built in the traditional way, made of stone, it extends for several kilometers.

The main street, stretching from east to west through the entire city, was laid during Roman rule. A majestic colonnade stretches on both sides of it. The western end of the street abutted a large temple, and the eastern end ended with a three-span triumphal arch.

Ed-Deir is a monastery carved into the rock at the top of a cliff - a huge building about 50 m wide and more than 45 m high. Judging by the crosses carved on the walls, the temple served as a Christian church for some time.

Later, after researchers excavated the space under the monastery, they discovered the tomb of one of the Nabatean kings.

Here is a very educational video from the National Geographic Channel:

The remains of this “city of the dead” are an edification for us who live after them. In the SacredIn the Koran, the Almighty tells us in several verses about the destroyed peoples and villages:

How many settlements We destroyed along with their sinful, godless inhabitants: [old] houses collapsed and became empty, wells [water supply systems] became useless and fell into disrepair, and [solid] palaces built [using the latest science and technology] [ if they remained standing, they were empty and deserted].*

Holy Quran, 22:45

Each of the human communities has its own term [nothing lasts forever in this world, everything (people, peoples, cities, states, eras, civilizations) has an earthly beginning and end]. If it comes, then nothing can be changed (it is impossible to delay it or speed it up).*

Holy Quran, 7:34

Haven’t you seen what your Lord did to the ‘adites?! [With their tribe] Iram, who had [majestic] buildings supported by columns. There were no people like them [powerful and strong, smart] anywhere until that moment.

Holy Quran 89:6-8

Don’t they see [don’t know] how many civilizations were destroyed by Us earlier! Truly, they will not return to them [to the existing ones]!*

Holy Quran 36:31

In conclusion, I will quote the words of a Muslim scholar-sage who was asked:

“Why do we hear edifications and instructions, but cannot benefit from them, they are not reflected in our lives?

The sage replied: “For five reasons:

First: Allah has endowed you with many bounties, granted you countless blessings, but you have lost your sense of gratitude towards Him

Second: having committed a sin, you stopped feeling the fear of God’s wrath, you stopped asking for mercy with deeds and words

Third: You don't follow what you know.

Fourth: There are righteous, well-behaved people in your environment, but you don’t even think of emulating them.

And the last one“: you bury the dead, see off many of your loved ones and acquaintances to another world, but cannot learn an instructive lesson from this”

As-Samarkandi N. Tanbih al-gafilin.P.292

O Allah, fill our hearts with timidity before Your greatness and power. Awaken in us this feeling, which will manifest itself in our tears, which will be filled in the future life with heavenly springs in the highest degrees of Firdavs! Amine.

Radia Zavdetovna,

Mahalla No. 1

*With comments by Sh. Alyautdinov

Materials used when writing this article:

Wikipedia

Sh. Alyautdinov “The Holy Quran. Meanings"

I. Alyautdinov “Know. Believe. Honor"