Petra

(Greek for Rock) the Biblical name of Sela (Semitic for Rock). The many references are (Judges 1 :36); (I1 kings 14:7), (I1 Chron. 25:ll-12), (Isaiah 16:1, 42:ll); (Jeremiah 49:16); Obadiah 3). King Amaziah defeated the Edomites and renamed the city to Joktheel (I1 kings 14:7).

From ancient times until the 13th century, it was a very prosperous place for caravan commerce and an important center for caravans on the Spice Route from Yemen, Persia and India.

Petra is surrounded by several High Places as mentioned in Scripture: (I Samuel 9:12- 25, 10:5-13, 13:6); (I1 Samuel 1 :19-25); (I Kings 3:2-4, 12:31, 13:l-33, 14:23); (I1 Kings l2:3, 14:4, 15:4-35, 16:4, 17:9-32, 18:4-22, 21 :3, 23:5-20); (Amos 4:4, 7:9); (ls.l5:2, l6:12, 57:8; Jer. 3:2, 7:31, 19:5-6, 32:35, 48:35); (Ezekiel 6:3-6, 16: 16-39)

The Triclinium were used as Houses of the High Places in Biblical times (I Samuel 9:22); (I Kings 12:31, 13:32); (I1 Kings 17:29-32, 23:19). Petra contains several carved Obelisks, referred to in the Bible as Sacred Pillars (Exodus 23:24, 24:4); (Deuteronomy 7:5, 12:3, 16:22); (Isaiah 19:19); (Micah 5:13); (Hosea 3:4, 10:l-2).

During Greco-Roman times it was a wealthy capital of the Nabataean empire with extensive building projects in the adjoining caverns. Antigonus, the Seleucid king, attacked the city twice unsuccessfully (312 BC).

The Magi, after visiting baby Jesus, on their alternate route home, they might have passed through here in order to take part of a caravan heading east (Matt. 2:12).

Petra was conquered by the Roman general Trajan in AD 105 and made one of the cities of the Provincia Arabia. Trade was diverted to Palmyra and the Red Sea causing the city to dwindle in importance. During the Crusader period the city revived for a brief time, four forts and onasteries were built. In the Islamic times it dwindled until completely abandoned, then lost from the western world. John Lewis Burkhardt, a Swiss scholar, rediscovered it in 1812 while traveling from Aleppo to Cairo. The ruins visible today are one of the most unique cities in the world with its hand carved facades and monuments. This includes an entire Roman theatre chiseled out of the cliff. There are innumerable, massively carved structures with magnificent decorations. Also, the swirling colored sandstone is an amazing, natural wonder.