Petra, Jordan - The Lost City of Stone, one of the wonders of world
Introduction Petra was founded in the 4th century BC by the Nabataean Arabs and was known in Arabic as Sila'a, Ar Rakeem, or biblically as 'Rqm,' all of which imply 'carved in the rock.' The Romans captured the site in AD 106, and it was dubbed Petra in Greek, or Al Betra in Arabic, both of which mean "carved in the rock." Several earthquakes are thought to have wreaked havoc on Petra, leading to its total ruin and eventual exodus in the 6th century AD. Figure 1 The Kasneh (Treasury) shining in the sun at the end of the long dark canyon known as the Siq – surely one of the most impressive and iconic sights in the world. Source: Anne Whaley Sousou. Locality Petra is situated in the middle of southern Jordan's rugged desert, halfway between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, but it was also next to an ancient highway leading eastwards from the high plateau to Wadi Araba. The site is also accessible from Ma'an, which is located to the east. Abu Mous