Petra

an ancient city and fortress in southern Jordan. The area was probably first settled at the end of the second millennium B.C. In the first millennium B.C., Petra was the capital of the Edomites, and from the end of the third or the beginning of the second century B.C. to A.D. 106 it was the capital of the Nabatean kingdom. Later it became part of the Roman province of Arabia. Changing trade routes caused the city gradually to lose importance, and in the fifth century it fell into neglect.

Studied by archaeologists since the beginning of the 20th century, Petra is the site of a complex covering more than 3 sq km and comprising rock-cut structures dating from various periods. The complex contains more than 1,000 burial vaults, including the Khazneh and the Deir; sanctuaries; temples; dwellings; and public buildings, including three markets, the temple Qasr Firun, and a theater from Roman times that seated 3,000 spectators.