Petra Jordan by Day

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Weekend Notes | October 14, 2022

https://www.weekendnotes.com/petra-jordan-by-day/

“Spend the morning with Indiana Jones in “The Last Crusade” as he charges through the desert gorge to the Treasury in search of the Holy Grail! Jordan abounds in archaeological riches, but few sites in the world can rival the Nabataean city of Petra, carved out of the rose-red rock cliffs!

We’ll enter the site through the Siq, a narrow gorge guarding the city’s entrance. At some point, the high stone walls will open up, and the magnificent Treasury, definitely the county’s probably most photographed monument, comes into view. Take your own share of pictures, then we’ll continue into the city to discover the many caves and tombs, and other structures.“

12:00 pm Enjoy lunch at the Basin Restaurant

Following lunch the guests will have free time to continue exploring the site on their own and go on optional hikes off the beaten path within the park. You can visit some of the hidden treasures of Petra, such as the Monastery or the High Place of Sacrifice, or climb up to Jabal Khubthaa, to gain an amazing view of the Treasury from above. – Visit Jordan

After Experiencing Petra at Night, I couldn’t wait to go back and see Petra during the day! So many people think that Petra is only the Treasury. Yet it’s so much more. There’s an entire ancient city, a monastery, and burial sites, with miles of trails to experience and traverse.

We had the typical trials of waiting for tickets and crowds to enter the Siq, but we’d already grown immune to that. We walked, as a group, through the beginning, with our guide, who explained the importance of the carvings.

“Things here are carved by the Nabataean,” Mohammad explains. “The Romans built, like at Jerash. Here, they carved.”

As we reached each section of the Siq, we learned more than we could even see the night before. Al-Qaum, the male moon god of the night and Al Uzza, the female goddess of the stars each earned their accolades along with Samsara an important guard who worked for the Nabataean empire.

“And here, you see this plant?” Mohammad asked.

“What is it?” we inquire.

“Probably fig. Brought by birds.”

“That happens in my yard.” Linda laughs, “I’ve got two birds that will cover my yard.”

Some things aren’t so very different, even thousands of miles apart.

Mohammad points out the figure of a man carved into the wall. His robes and shoes are evident, his face long gone.

Behind this, though, Mohammad points out the hooves of the camels, and the wave of their backs along the upper section of the wall.

“This represents the caravan.” Mohammad tells us.

We look at it in wonder, so glad we have a guide to explain these things. It becomes obvious you can spend an entire day in the Siq alone to learn more about this ancient civilization.

The Nabataean presided between 300 BC and 100 AD around the time of the Roman empire. The Romans built, the Nabataean carved.