Which ancient civilization built the city of Petra?

The Nabataeans built the ancient city of Petra.

Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, an Arab trading state that flourished in the region of modern-day Jordan. The city was carved and constructed in a narrow sandstone valley, with monumental façades, tombs, temples and water-management systems. Its position helped the Nabataeans control caravan routes connecting Arabia with the Mediterranean, Egypt and Syria.

The famous Treasury, or Al-Khazneh, is a monumental façade cut into rock, probably serving as a tomb or ceremonial structure rather than a storehouse of treasure. Rome annexed the Nabataean Kingdom in 106 CE, after which Petra remained important but gradually declined as trade routes shifted. The city became widely known in Europe after Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt visited in 1812. Petra is often called the “Rose City” because of the colour of its sandstone.