Ancient, ruined cities that tell tales of their glorified pasts have always stimulated human imagination! Veiled in mystery, isolated sites have always lured archeologists, travelers, tourists, adventurers and knowledge seekers time and again to reveal its mysteries. Petra located on the boundaries of the mountainous desert of the Wadi Araba in Jordan is one such city which has several buried secrets and fascinating stories to tell the world. Petra was once upon a time a thriving city located in the heart of the early Near East but later got forgotten by the exterior world for centuries until it was discovered in the 1800s.
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| | The city of Petra was initially created in the 6th century BC by a nomadic tribe known as Nabataean Arabs. They were basically nomads who wandered from place to place in caravans and camel backs and became very wealthy and powerful as traders. They gained control of the important routes used for trading spices and incense from Arabia to Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. They put down their roots when they reached Petra and thus marked the beginning of a commercial realm whose borders extended to Syria. |
The Seleucid king Antigonus, the Roman emperor Pompey and Herod the Great unsuccessfully attempted to conquer Petra but the city remained under the rule of the Nabataean until 100 A.D when it fell under the clutches of the Romans. Petra flourished for centuries, even after it was taken over by the Roman Empire. But somewhere in the 12th century this pulsating and lively city was deserted and forgotten by the outside world until the early 19th century, when it was visited by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Petra has several impressive tombs, monuments, and houses that were engraved into the sandstone rock faces. Rose-red rocks are used to hand-carve these intricate formations which are then coated with stucco and tinted with bright hues. Enormous columns, imposing staircases, and classical statues in Greek and roman styles are also found in Petra. Breathtaking scenery, snaky roads, impressive water channels along with majestic hills and cliffs are also a part of Petra. The Siq, the narrow, twisty gorge that lead into Petra, is a natural wonder of the world.
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| Petra is also known as the "lost city of stone". The Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt wrote striking accounts about this city which drew the attention of early 19th-century European travelers to this long forgotten city. This city which was not marked in maps and has been unnoticed by visitors for more than 500 years suddenly lured visitors to wonder at its splendor and speculate about its history. Today, it is one of the world's most famous ancient sites. Yet, only 5 percent of the city has been revealed, and many secrets remain unraveled. |
Allwondersoftheworld.com describes the mysterious past of the City of Petra and the magnificence and affluence enjoyed by the ancient civilization in detail. You can also find information about other wonders of the world such as
Allwondersoftheworld.com describes the enigmatic past of the City of Petra and the opulence and prosperity enjoyed by the ancient civilization.
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