Category:Petra (subject)
Petra was the capital of the Nabatean kingdom.
Overview
Since the 6th century BCE, Petra was the capital of the Nabateans. The city acquired prominence in the 2nd century BCE as the Nabateans took control of the main commercial routes which passed through it from the Arab peninsula to Gaza in the west, and to Bosra and Damascus in the north. Petra assumed the aspect of a Hellenistic city, with rich monuments and tombs.
In 106 CE, Petra was absorbed into the Roman Empire as part of the new province of Arabia. The native dynasty came to an end. But the city continued to flourish under Roman rule.
Petra in ancient sources
Petra in scholarship
The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was "rediscovered" by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It is today one of the most popular archaeological sites of the Middle East.
Petra in fiction
External links
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