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History of Petra <<Go to itinerary page >>
Dealing in precious myrrh and frankincense, the Nabateans led their
caravans over a vast area, stretching from the bottom of the Arabian
peninsula to the Mediterranean coast, linking a trade route from Yeman, Somalia,
and Oman to the markets of Greece, Rome, Egypt and Syria. Along this route, 64
caravansaries provided fresh camels, medical services and supplies.
Petra was first used by the Nabateans as a sacred burial ground. It was chosen
not because it was easy to defend, but because it was easily overlooked. So
easily overlooked that, after the Red Sea trade route replaced the overland
route, the location of Petra was lost to outside knowledge, until its
rediscovery in 1812 by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Boasting over 800 individual temples, tombs and monuments, the city of Petra is
a unique step back into the mysteries of an ancient time and culture. Be sure to
check out the photos
of this magnificent monument to Nabatean skill and artistry.
Petra Timeline
1420-587 BC Edomites in Petra
312
BC The Seleucid ruler Antigonus attempts to be the sole
ruler of Asia, surprise attacks the Nabateans at Selah (Petra) the Nabateans
later pursue and defeat the Greeks.
168
BC The high priest Jason, is exiled by Antiochus IV and
imprisoned in the Negev by the first Nabatean King, Aretas.
70
BC Aretas IV; lays siege to Jerusalem; Pompey sends
Scaurus the Roman General to force the Nabateans to retreat.
70
AD The Nabatean king Malichus IV sends 5,000 horsemen
and 1,000 soldiers to help Titus quash the Jewish revolt which left Jerusalem
and the temple destroyed.
March 22 105 AD
The Roman emperor Trajan annexes the Nabatean kingdom into the Roman provincia
Arabia.
326
AD With Christianity the official religion of Rome, Petra
becomes Byzantine; 4 churches are built.
638
AD Muhammad’s armies defeat the Byzantine armies; the
Christians of Petra are given religious freedom. By the end of the 7th century
AD Petra is abandoned
1099 Baldwin, the 1st the Crusader king, builds a
chain of castles the length of Jordon, (including 2 castles in Petra) in an
attempt to control the gulf of Eilat, the gateway to the Indian Ocean.
1187 The Muslim leader
Saladin destroys the crusader fortresses; Petra is a lost city until
rediscovered by Johan Burckhardt in 1812 |
