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The ancient stone city of Petra.

Hiding in the middle-eastern canyons of Jordan,
lies what was once a thriving trading city,

now lost to time.

These ancient tombs and temples are visited
by tens of thousands of tourists each year.

The ancient arabic people who built this city
2300 years ago were the Nabataeans, but the

area probably has a much longer history going
back thousands of years before that.

The Nabataeans were a nomadic people who traded
with other countries, and that's probably

why Petra with its favourable trading location
was chosen.

The word Petra means rock or stone in Greek,
which is very fitting because this city was

not just built by stone, but was mostly carved
into it.

Petra has two other names which tell you more
about it.

One of the names it goes by is The Rose City,
so called because of the colour the sandstone

turns at sunset and sunrise.

Another name is the Lost City because for
over 500 years its location was forgotten.

Petra was only rediscovered 200 years ago
in 1812 by a Swiss traveller.

Over 20,000 Nabataeans called this place home
at one time.

The Romans took control of Petra in the first
century AD, then

a large earthquake in 363 AD destroyed much
of the city.

New and better trade routes started to be
used and Petras importance declined

The Nabataeans were a very resourceful people
in many ways, as proven by their innovative

water management system.

They collected groundwater and rainwater from
nearby and distant areas using channels cut

into the rocks.

In these channels sat terracotta pipes which
let water flow gently from various cisterns

at the tops of canyons around the city.

They had enough water for themselves, their
camels and things they grew.

It's even said they had enough water for a
swimming pool.

Another marvel of their architectural will,
is their theatre.

Carved into the hillside, it could seat over
8000 people.

Audiences would be entertained with plays,
readings and fights.

If you want to visit Petra someday, you'll
probably arrive in Jordan's biggest airport

in the capital, Amman which is about a 3 hours
drive to Petra.

But don't make the mistake most people make
in thinking you can see all of Petra in one

day.

The ancient city is huge, and cars aren't
allowed, so you'll be doing a lot of walking,

hiking and travelling between sites usually
on foot or by camel or horse drawn buggies.

So to really enjoy all of what Petra has to
offer, you'll need 2 or 3 days, and staying

in the nearby town is highly recommended.

And lastly you may not have thought it possible,
but you can even enjoy the Lost City at night.

In front of one of the tombs, the facade is
lit up by candles, and sitting on a blanket

listening to traditional music, you can relax
and imagine what this ancient city must have

been like.

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