Petra
Ancient city of Arabia, in the mountains of what is now southwestern Jordan, immediately east of the village of Wadi Musa.
Petra remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Petra was once an important caravan center as capital, stronghold and treasure-city of the Nabataeans, an Arab people.
Petra (Greek, 'city of rock') is referred to as Sela in the Bible (2 Kings 14:7). It was situated in the land of Edom, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqabah, near the points of intersection of great caravan routes from Gaza on the Mediterranean Sea, from Dimashq, from Elath on the Red Sea, and from the Persian Gulf.
From the 4th century BC until the 2nd century AD, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. In 106 AD it was absorbed into the Roman Empire and made part of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea. The city continued to flourish in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, but later, when the rival city of Palmyra took away most of Petra's trade, the importance of Petra declined.
Petra was conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century and captured by the Crusaders in the 12th century; gradually it fell into ruins. It was then hidden and forgotten for hundreds of years until it was rediscovered by Swiss adventurer and explorer, Johann Burckhardt (1784-1817), in 1812.
Today Petra is considered a national treasure, with its notable temples and dwellings hewn out of cliffs. The entrance of the ancient city is at the end of a narrow chasm or ravine, known as a siq, which in some places is only 3.7 m (12 ft) wide and has towering rocky walls. Along this ravine are the ancient structures carved out of the walls of solid rock, the most famous of which include the Khaznet Firaoun, a temple also known as the Treasury of the Pharaohs, and a semicircular theater capable of seating about 3000 spectators.
Because of the striking pink, salmon and rose-colored limestone that surrounds Petra, and from which the impressive buildings, temples and dwellings were carved, it is also called the Red Rose city. All along the face of the pink rocks that overlook the valleys are rows of tombs hewn out of the solid stone. The remains of Petra bear eloquent testimony to its former power, wealth, and culture.
See Petra in History & Prophecy, Petra Today, The Architecture of Petra (British Academy Monographs in Archaeology, No 1), The Nabataeans: Their History, Culture & Archaeology, Ka, Thoth, Amulet, Talisman, Ba, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, The Chakra Store, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
Sources: Article is scheduled to be reviewed.
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