Petra is the ancient city famous for its rock-cut archaeological site in modern Jordan.
The Nabataeans established Petra as their capital, probably by the 4th century BCE. Its position between Arabia, the Levant, and the Mediterranean helped it prosper as a trading centre, especially for incense, spices, and other valuable goods.
The city’s most recognizable monument is Al-Khazneh, or the Treasury, carved into a sandstone cliff. Other major features include the Siq entrance gorge, the Monastery, tombs, temples, and a sophisticated water-management system.
Petra was annexed by Rome in 106 CE and gradually declined as trade routes changed and earthquakes damaged parts of the settlement. Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt brought it to wider European attention in 1812. Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.