Page 184 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

182 ASIA Petra

Set deep in the rock and protected by the walls of a valley
THE ARCH IJECJURE OF PETRA
is one of the world's most marvelously preserved and
The Nabataeans were adventurous architects, always
creating a distinctive look. The multiple crowstep is seen as impressive archeological sites: Petra. There has been human
a design of the first settlers, whereas Nabataean Classical
buildings reflect a later period. The dating of the fa~ades is settlement here since prehistoric times, but before the
very difficult, as many examples of the"early" style appear Nabataeans came, Petra was just another watering hole.
to have been built during the Classical period, or even later.
Between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century AD, they
This intermediate style, built a superb city, the center of a vast trading empire.
which is frequently
seen at Petra, placed In AD 106, Petra was annexed by Rome. Christianity
multiple crowsteps arrived in the 4th century, the Muslims in the 7th, and the
with a single-divide
crowstep, and added Crusaders in the 12th. Petra then lay forgotten until the
Classical cornices and early 19th century. A Theater Vaults
pillars and Hellenistic
doorways.

This early design Single-divide crowstep, KEY DATES
was probably lending height
inspired by Assyrian 3rd C4ntury BC 1100s 1812 1985
architecture
The Nabataeans Petra falls into decline J. L. Burckhardt Petra joins UNESCO's
settle in Petra and after the departure of is the first European World Heritage list.
make it their capital. the Crusaders. to visit Petra.

The eagle, a "Attic" Burial Chambers
Nabataean male These were a device to
deity symbol protect the dead from
animals and tomb robbers.

Single-divide Crowstep
This was a design devised by
the Nabataeans to complement
the Classical cornice.
Vertical Foothold ~ Outer Siq Designs
This may have
been added to aid
the sculptors.

~ Treasury
Tholos

Mounted
Figures
Castor and
Pollux, sons
of Zeus, flank
the portico. ----==-l .. ---f-tJ~

THE OUTER SIQ
The artwork above shows some of the
major constructions on the left -hand ~ Treasury Interior Stairway to High
side of the Outer Siq, leading from A col ossa I doorway dominates the Place of Sacrifice
the Treasury to the Theater. In reality, outer court and leads to a 129 sq-ft
of course, the route bends and twists, (12 sq-m) inner chamber. At the back
and on both the left and right sides are of the chamber is a sanctuary with an ~ To the Street
ablution basin, suggesting that the
a great number of other tombs and of Fa~ades
Treasury was, in fact, a temple.
features of architectural interest.