Ancient site · City
Petra
Also known as Raqmu
The 'Rose City' of the Nabataeans, carved into red sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan. It grew rich as a hub of the incense trade and became the capital of the Nabataean kingdom.
Its builders cut grand tomb facades such as the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) straight into the rock, and channels and cisterns stored scarce water. Rome annexed it in 106 CE; it declined after an earthquake in 363 CE. It is a UNESCO site.
- Dates
- c. 4th century BCE – 7th century CE; Treasury 1st century CE
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 30.33° N, 35.44° E
How we know
Nabataean inscriptions and Greek and Roman writers describe the city.
Nearby sites
- Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) c. 10,000 BCE – Persian period; tower and wall c. 8000 BCE
- ʿAin Ghazal c. 7250–5000 BCE
- Raqefet Cave c. 12,000–9700 BCE (Natufian burials)
- ʿAin Mallaha (Eynan) c. 12,400–10,200 BCE
- Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara c. 2667–2648 BCE
- Pyramids of Giza c. 2600–2500 BCE