What is the old name for Petra?

The Greek name Petra (“Rock”) probably replaced the biblical name Sela. Remains from the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods have been discovered at Petra, and Edomites are known to have occupied the area about 1200 bce.



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Here's a list of 22 facts you might not know about this beautiful historical city in southern Jordan.
  • Petra is popularly called The Lost City. ...
  • Petra is also known as the Rose City. ...
  • Petra is one of the oldest cities in the world. ...
  • Petra means rocks. ...
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site. ...
  • Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.


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Although Petra was inhabited by the Edomites before the arrival of the Nabateans, the latter carved grandiose buildings, temples and tombs out of solid sandstone rock. They also constructed a wall to fortify the city, although Petra was almost naturally defended by the surrounding sandstone mountains.

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In A.D. 363, Petra suffered another blow when a massive earthquake destroyed many of the city's buildings and its water-supply system. This natural disaster marked a turning point for the Nabataeans. By A.D. 700, only a few people lived in and around Petra. Over time, the city was lost to the outside world.

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Many people believe Petra was built for the Gods (or Giants) as the doorways, archways, and buildings are extremely tall. The buildings of Petra are composed of stone that has been sculpted by hand out of the sandstone cliffs using chisels.

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In A.D. 363, Petra suffered another blow when a massive earthquake destroyed many of the city's buildings and its water-supply system. This natural disaster marked a turning point for the Nabataeans. By A.D. 700, only a few people lived in and around Petra. Over time, the city was lost to the outside world.

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During the reign of Aretas III (87 to 62 BC) the kingdom seems to have reached its territorial zenith; it was defeated by a Roman army under the command of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus.

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Absolutely! If you ever get a chance to go to Jordan, Petra is a place you must visit. It is the most famous attraction in the whole country; even more important than the capital Amman. Petra is an ancient city located in the middle of a desert.

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We know that these nomadic merchants became very rich as desert traders, and slowly gave up their goatskin tents to build the grand houses and monuments that became Petra. But it is a mystery why these people gave up their nomadic life to settle down in one place. The nomadic Nabataeans settled in the city of Petra.

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Hegra is the lesser-known sister city of Petra in Jordan and lay covered under the sands of time. Hegra, like Petra, was built by the Nabateans, who created a huge empire in the desert from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD, when Emperor Trajan conquered them and they became subjects of the Romans.

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