The Treasury, Petra

This building, known as The Treasury is one of a

series of buildings built by the Nabateans who

followed a pagan religion and were closely linked

to the people of Thamud. They were renowned for

their elaborate skill of carving into rocks.

The Nabateans were a Semitic people, Arabs of

southern Jordan, Canaan and the northern part

of Arabia,

Petra lies on the slope of Mount Hor and close

to the town of Wadi Musa (the valley of

Moses). Harun (upon him be peace), the

brother of Musa (upon him be peace) is buried

close by, as is Miriam, their sister.

The Nabateans worshipped the Arab gods and

goddesses of the pre-Islamic times as well as

few of their deified kings. Many statues carved

in the rock depict these gods and goddesses.

Three of the idols worshipped by the

disbelievers at the time of the Prophet (peace

and blessings of Allah be on him), Lat, Uzza

and Manat have their origins with the

Nabateans. They used to believe that they

were the daughters of Allah.

One of the first things that can be seen around

the entrance to Petra are three huge blocks,

standing 6 to 8 metres high. Tradition holds

that they contained ‘jinn’, placed there to

guard the city.

References: Wikipedia

Source : Wikipedia

Interiors of Al Khazneh, Source : www.eveandersson.com

Top of a pillar with a pine cone as a symbol of

fertility. Al Khazneh, a.k.a. The Treasury

Source : www.eveandersson.com

Detail from the façade of Al Khazneh, a.k.a. The

Treasury

Source : www.eveandersson.com