WhereIsAtlas · Archaeology

Petra

The rose-red city carved into Jordan's sandstone cliffs — 'lost' to the West for centuries, now a world wonder

Active — Petra, the ancient Nabataean city carved into rose-red sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan, was a major caravan hub 2,000 years ago. It was unknown to the West from the Crusades until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Jordan.

Petra is an ancient city carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan, about 150 miles south of Amman. It was founded by the Nabataeans and became a crucial caravan hub linking Arabia, Egypt and Syria, controlling the lucrative frankincense and myrrh trade routes. At its height around 2,000 years ago, Petra housed up to 30,000 people.

Petra was never truly lost — local Bedouin tribes knew it — but it was unknown to the Western world from the time of the Crusades. In 1812, Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it, presenting himself as a pilgrim to gain access. The city's dramatic rock-cut architecture, including the famous Treasury, made it one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on Earth.

Today Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, drawing visitors from around the globe. It is a symbol of Jordan and of the remarkable engineering of the Nabataean people.

Quick facts

Location
Southern Jordan (~150 mi south of Amman)
Civilization
Nabataean
Peak
~2,000 years ago; up to 30,000 people
Trade
Controlled frankincense & myrrh routes
Rediscovered by West
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, 1812
Status
UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Seven Wonder

Sources

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