The Petra Great Temple | The Great Temple. The Great Temple. The Great Temple is now recognized to have been one of the main buildings of the ancient city of Petra. It seems probable that the ancient Nabataeans wished to compete with other city centers in the embellishment of their city.

While Petra features many impressive structures, the most famous monument is officially called Al-Khazneh, or "The Treasury." Carved into the rose-colored sandstone cliff face, it is not actually a treasury but a monumental tomb, likely built for the Nabataean King Aretas IV in the 1st century AD. Another significant "temple" is the Great Temple, a massive 7,560-square-meter complex that served as a central civic and religious hub for the city. Travelers also frequently hike up to Ad-Deir, commonly known as "The Monastery," which is similar in design to the Treasury but significantly larger and more austere. Other religious sites include the Qasr al-Bint, which was likely the main temple of the Nabataean god Dushara, and the Temple of the Winged Lions. Each of these structures showcases the sophisticated rock-cut architecture of the Nabataeans, blending Hellenistic and Eastern styles into the iconic "rose-red city half as old as time."