Photos of Jordan : Petra

On the way down to the Siq entrance (on the right) you pass the "Djinn blocks", also known as "God blocks". These are great massive blocks of sandstone and are usually associated with a souce of water. I am told that there are 25 of them in various places in Petra.

Water control in Petra : flash floods have always been a problem. Here is a photo of the tunnel which diverts water flowing down the valley from entering the Siq; and on the right, one of the dams inside the Siq to retain as much as possible of the rainwater. Incidentally when the tunnel was built, traces were found of similar works dating from Nabatean times. Same problem = same solution!

The Siq, very impressive to walk in when it is empty of people and silent, has recently been paved over. You can see here the remains of the original water channel on the left, especially clear in the centre photo. There are several places where the running water was made more accessible for men or animals, very interesting to see. Most of this was hidden under the accumulated débris before the recent work was done during which the Siq was "lowered" by nearly a meter.

One of the more interesting monuments in Petra was uncovered in the Siq during the work of paving. Here was carved a caravaneer, leading a camel to water, the water being a cascade falling from the rocks to the right of the men. The cascade is still there after rain. but little is left of the carving except their feet and the outline of the camel. If you keep a sharp lookout you will find it on the left hand side of the Siq when you are going down into Petra itself. The water channel is visible here also, just behing the feet.

The famous "Khazneh" or "Treasury", the most photographed monument in Jordan! It is reached at the end of the "Siq", a narrow canyon nearly a mile long and up to 500m deep. Known to the entire world nowadays as "The Temple of the Holy Grail" in the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", it has been largely protected from weather erosion by its situation in between high cliffs.

Some of the thousands of tombs in Petra

Coming from the "Lower Siq" The exterior of a beautiful coloured tomb

The area near to the theatre

Two views of the Roman theatre

The Urn Tomb, named for the "urn" at the top. It is sometimes called "the Court" from its utilisation under the Roman rule

This is a photo of the "ceiling" of the Urn Tomb


The Royal tombs	The Royal tombs seen from the "paved road"

"Qasr el bint" or "the castle of Pharaoh's daughter

This is in fact the remains of a Nabatean temple. The name comes from the legend that a Pharaoh left his daughter here for her safety while he was waging war in the region.

Many people are starting to tire when they approach the Museum and the steps going up to the Monastery (some 400 of them!)
(Photos Mehdi Hassanat)

Transport is available if wanted
(Photos Mehdi Hassanat)

The Monastery or "Ed Deir" in Arabic.

There is a magnificent view from near here over Wadi Araba, but it does mean walking an extra hundred meters or so which hurts after all those steps! See the photo on the "A walk around Petra" page

Photo Leon and Mirjan

Photo Ciara

On the way up to the High Place of Sacrifice - more steps!

The Roman soldier's tomb, on the "back way" down from the High Place.

Top of page