History and ancient civilisations are my thing!
Petra is an ancient archeological site in present-day Jordan and dates back to the fourth century B.C. The ruins of the once-great Nabatean metropolis and trading centre were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. I was lucky enough to get the chance to visit while I was in Jordan for work.
The Nabateans living and trading in Petra accumulated significant wealth controlling the trade routes throughout the inhospitable region, enticing the Greek Empire to attack the city in 312 B.C.
The Nabateans fought off the invaders by exploiting their barren, mountainous terrain.
The Romans invaded Petra in 106 A.D., ultimately forcing the Nabateans to surrender. They ruled over the region for over 250 years until the middle of the fourth century, when an earthquake destroyed much of the city. The Byzantines eventually took control of the remnants and governed Petra for another 300 years.
The fantastic city inspired a host of myths and legends. The Christian Crusaders believed that it was at Petra that Moses struck a rock to bring water to the Israelites when they fled Egypt. The Knights Templar claimed they found the Ark of the Covenant while garrisoning at the ancient city. Another myth about Petra is the belief that remarkable treasures lie hidden in the building known as the Treasury (not a treasury, by the way, but likely a ceremonial tomb). Many treasure hunters have fired upon the façade in search of this supposed fortune, the scars of which are still visible. Most will recognise it as a star from the Indiana Jones movie.
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