Quote:
Originally Posted by SleazyDream
saw a discovery channel film on petra - major city on the old spice route that existed cause they had water to sell to the travelers. route changed - city collapsed. very cool place to visit
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I paid a local guide to get information and find out the most interesting places as its really large area.
Anyway the story was bit different.
Long story short :
Petra was built by "Nabateans " about 80 BC(if I remmember well).Nabateans were thieves who attacked the caravans but after some time they find out that its more profitable to offer the protection.So as they knew the location and desert pretty well they got lot of biz and got rich in no time.
They decided to built up the central city to keep their money and its Petra.They hired stoneworkes from Egypt and Rome who made all those rooms , terraces , crypts and also theatre.
With few exeptions all the "rooms" were used as storage + some for religion ceremonies - not for living.
The most known (the 1 from Indiana Jones) is the first what you can see when you enter the city.Its called "treasury".
City become the centre of the region but after 300 -350 years got abandoned.The reason of city got abandoned was the preasure from Romans in that area.
Petra has been forgoten for 1500 years and all that time kept in the secret from any1 exept local nomads.
Some UK dude got to the city in 19 century and discover the Petra for new age.
like this + -
here is the nabateans descent of today
