I did mention that due to the sheer size of the place I was unable to do justice to all of it.
Well............... I’ve failed yet again. My only excuse is that I had the mother-in-law with me, with a bad foot, so it was impossible to get much further than I did before. But I did manage a little more. The place I need yet to get to is called the Monastery which I have visited in the past but not in recent years.
Just to prove it, here is a photo of me (honest, it is) on top of the Monastery tomb roof in 1995.
Well............... I’ve failed yet again. My only excuse is that I had the mother-in-law with me, with a bad foot, so it was impossible to get much further than I did before. But I did manage a little more. The place I need yet to get to is called the Monastery which I have visited in the past but not in recent years.
Just to prove it, here is a photo of me (honest, it is) on top of the Monastery tomb roof in 1995.
Anyway, on the previous post is a lot of information that can be read and digested that may be relevant to this continuation, but there is no point in repeating it all here.
Suffice to say that the entrance, down the canyon called the Siq, is unchanged, but a couple of views of the rocks are worth posting –
Then there is the classic view of a tomb called the Treasury that peeks at you as you get to the end –
There are a few more views of different things of interest until I get to the part not covered before –
Then we start coming to what is collectively called The Royal Tombs.
This one is the Urn Tomb. This tomb is built high on the mountain side, and requires climbing up a number of flights of stairs. It has been suggested that this is the tomb of Nabataean King Malchus II who died in 70 AD. On the other hand it has been proposed that this is the tomb of Aretas IV.
The main chamber is very large and inside are three asps, constructed when the tomb was converted into a church.
The Corinthian Tomb comes next. It is very worn, but it is very ornate and similar to the Treasury –
The Palace Tomb, next, is very wide, and has three distinct stories in it's facade. Supposedly, it is similar to a Roman palace design. In front of the tomb is a large stage and in front of this a large courtyard –
A little walk around the site from here elicits a number of views. There may be a bit of repetition with the previous thread but it’s worth it for getting an idea of the sheer scale of the place –
We start skirting the old Roman area, a quick view of the road we’ll walk along –
But I’ve walked quite a few kilometres as it is, and clambered over plenty of rocks, so a quick stop for a coffee and a fresh orange or lemon juice –
And pit stop –
Everywhere is riddled with tombs -
Coming to the lowest point there is a spring where some trees have survived the harsh summers –
And a restaurant built into the rock face, I think this is the one run by one of the major hotels in the nearby town, but I’m not sure, never went in. Though the town is commonly known at Petra it is actually called Wadi Musa. Musa being a variation on the name Moses – this town is where reputedly Moses, lead his people towards the promised land, but ran out of water. He struck the ground with his staff and a spring broke forth. Well, more or less anyway. Just so you know.
So, we turn back towards where we started out, initially to the beginning (or maybe the end) of the Roman road. We pass on our right a rather large building –
This is the Qasr al-Bint or Qasr Bint Far’un – the Pharaoh’s Daughter. One of the words brought into the English language (of which there are many, aren’t there?) is a slang word – bint. In Arabic is usually means daughter or girl and has virtually the same meaning in slang in areas of the UK.
This is the oldest temple complex in Petra and was built somewhere between 25BC and 25AD.
The legend is that the same Pharaoh who is supposed to have hidden his treasure in the urn of the Treasury promised the daughter of his hand in marriage for whoever could develop a system to bring water to the palace. Whether that happened is lost in time, but several water channels have been found nearby. It is 23m high and a typical Hellenistic temple where only priests could enter the inside.
It is believed the temple was dedicated to the main Nabatean god, Dushara –
We start towards the Roman road –
We refuse the offer of a donkey ride for the umpteenth time –
We wonder if we can just have a minute like these lads –
But no, we must press on. Through the entrance/exit gate –
And on. You can see the Royal Tombs in the distance –
A quick look back the way we’ve just come –
Pass some of the locals –
Back towards the tombs we passed earlier –
Shall we call for more refreshment? –
Or probably best if we call back at the hotel and have a shower and a lie down, just like this bloke would love to do –
Later, but don’t quite yet know when, will be a small report on a lesser known and smaller (a hell of a lot smaller) area nearby.
Before I leave Jordan I’m determined to finish off Petra. Gawd knows when though.
Before I leave Jordan I’m determined to finish off Petra. Gawd knows when though.