Archaeological Feast

Monday, October 10, 2016
Petra, Jordan
Unfortunate timing, with an early start for our Petra tour and the US presidential debate -- 4am our time -- made for a long day.

It was all worth it though as nothing could really prepare you for the sight of the Treasury in Petra, as you emerge from the narrow, winding siq .

And it wasn't just the buildings, carved into the sandstone and incredibly well preserved, but the bustling crowds of vendors and camels milling about that provided such an exotic sight.

What was almost as interesting as the architectural feats was the ancient water supply system that brought precious water into the city.

What we saw of Jordan revealed a dry, dusty country with little nowadays in the way of economic opportunities -- apart from tourism.

Naturally, in such a dry country this lack of water is a huge source of vulnerability, exploited by the Romans centuries ago to bring Petra to its knees.

So -- more material to contemplate changes over time.

Fabulous -- and fabled -- Petra, wealthy by dint of its position along the Silk Road, dying away as newer, faster forms of transport emerged -- by sea.

Rock + water -- a minimalist tale of Petra. 
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Comments

Malcolm Pearce
2016-10-17

Lovely!!
I've seen Petra described as 'a rose red city, half as old as time'.

2025-02-13

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