The Nabataean city of Petra is the best-known historical site in Jordan. It’s kilometers of rose-coloured sandstone has been hewn into countless tombs and intricate water systems which once served a city of about 30,000 people. Today only heaps of rock mark the place where their dwellings stood, but the tomb city remains an enduring monument to their honoured dead and their ingenious artisans.
The Treasury (so-named because it was once rumoured to be the place where the Pharaoh of Egypt hid his treasure while pursuing the Israelites) is the crown jewel in an impressive string of hand-hewn tombs. It was actually carved for the Nabataean king Aretas III. The urn which adorns its peak is pock-marked from the rifle shots of hopeful locals who believed gold coins might spill out if it was broken. But it is made of solid stone and has never contained treasure.
There are over 100 tombs in and around Petra. The oldest date back to the third century BC. Larger, more ornate tombs belonged to the wealthy and elite members of society.
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