Journey into the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan to uncover the history of Petra, the ancient "Rose City" carved directly into rock. In this episode, we explore how the Nabataeans, originally nomadic Arabs, transformed this desert landscape into a thriving trade capital through masterful water engineering and agriculture.
We trace the city’s timeline from its peak in the 1st century AD—when it was known to inhabitants as Raqmu—through its annexation by the Roman Empire and eventual decline following a catastrophic earthquake in 363 AD,,. Listeners will learn about:
- The Rediscovery: How Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, disguised as a local, revealed the "lost city" to the Western world in 1812,.
- Architectural Marvels: The Hellenistic-style facades of the iconic Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) and Ad Deir (The Monastery), as well as the massive rock-cut theater and the Royal Tombs,,,.
- Sacred History: The city’s evolution from worshiping Nabataean deities like Dushara to its Byzantine Christian period, alongside traditional connections to Moses and the tomb of his brother Aaron,,.
- Modern Challenges: The status of Petra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and New 7 Wonder of the World, balancing massive tourism and pop culture fame with urgent conservation needs and the complex history of the local Bedul Bedouin community,,.
