Incredible Petra Series in Jordan: The Treasury (and the camels and their Bedouin owners)
Ah, finally! Here she is... emerging dramatically at the end of the narrow siq is the breath taking Al-Khazneh (The Treasury), the pride and joy of Petra. Carved by hand in the 1st century BC, this is supposedly a tomb of an important Nabatean king while some say it was once a temple. Scholars actually debate about the purpose of this building which officially remains a mystery. So I guess it does not hurt to hypothesize.
Beautiful Al-Khazneh (The Treasury)
The Treasury, as many may have noticed is the official face and symbol of Petra. Petra brochures always show the Treasury sculpted from the sandstone cliffs on the front cover page, thus when people think of Petra, they right away picture the Treasury in their minds.
I will have to agree though that this monument, is indeed, the most beautiful monument ruin in the rose-red ancient city of Petra, mainly because of its visible intricate facade carving detail. No wonder it is the first monument the Nabateans showcase upon entering the city. Visiting traders, after the much anticipation 1.2 kilometres journey through the amazing siq, must have dropped their jaws in awe seeing and being dwarfed by this stunning piece of Nabatean architecture.
My Petra little booklet says that the architectural style of the Treasury was quite unique in the ancient world and its main inspiration were derived from Hellenistic and Alexandrian Hellenistic influences plus the Nabatean artistic touch.
The Treasury is also the most photographed monument ruin in Petra. Here are some of my fotos below, these were taken early in the morning so the colours and sunlight were not really at the best moment.
The elaborately carved facade represents the Nabatean engineering genius. It was early in the morning and the sun was not with us so I am a bit sad that I did not have better fotos of the Treasury.
The Bedouins have this legend that pharaonic treasures are hidden inside the urn on top of the middle pedestal. It is not anymore allowed to enter the Treasury.
Here are the pictures taken at the end of the day, so you will notice the natural colours of the reddish stone, except for the picture of Blondine which was taken in the morning (notice the sunlight).
This was taken at the end of the day and we were soooo tired from the all-day hiking, but we still have to hike another 45-minute through the Siq route in order to get out of Petra.
The Pirates of the Caribbean aka Johnny Depp look-alike Bedouin and his camels
In front of The Treasury we found Bedouins touting their camels. The animals are so calm, sweet and lovely. Camels, together with donkeys and horses, are the only permitted forms of (traditional) transportation in Petra. Camel rental prices vary greatly so prepare to negotiate.
We met this Bedouin who looked like Johnny Depp in his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. He’s got sharp and thick charcoal black eyes and I wondered if he actually put some black eyeliner on, haha.
He told us that everyone tells him the same thing that he looks like Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean. He must have been tired hearing this every day. Anyway, I asked him if he actually has seen the movie, to which he replied with a big—NO, in an uninteresting way. I told him he should watch it one day because the character that looks like him is a hero in the movie.
He replied saying he doesn’t need to watch it, and added—‘You are a hero but you die a zero.’ Haha, I did not see that coming. Quite clever, this man!
Camel station in front of the Treasury in Petra. Rental prices for these camels vary, so negotiate, negotiate, negotiate =)
But, there is more to Petra than the world famous facade of the Treasury and I will be showing more of these to you later on in my next entries...
Next, the ‘Street Facades and the Theater’
Travel Period: April 2011
Destination: Petra (Wadi Musa), Jordan
Beautiful Al-Khazneh (The Treasury)
The Treasury, as many may have noticed is the official face and symbol of Petra. Petra brochures always show the Treasury sculpted from the sandstone cliffs on the front cover page, thus when people think of Petra, they right away picture the Treasury in their minds.
I will have to agree though that this monument, is indeed, the most beautiful monument ruin in the rose-red ancient city of Petra, mainly because of its visible intricate facade carving detail. No wonder it is the first monument the Nabateans showcase upon entering the city. Visiting traders, after the much anticipation 1.2 kilometres journey through the amazing siq, must have dropped their jaws in awe seeing and being dwarfed by this stunning piece of Nabatean architecture.
My Petra little booklet says that the architectural style of the Treasury was quite unique in the ancient world and its main inspiration were derived from Hellenistic and Alexandrian Hellenistic influences plus the Nabatean artistic touch.
The Treasury is also the most photographed monument ruin in Petra. Here are some of my fotos below, these were taken early in the morning so the colours and sunlight were not really at the best moment.
The elaborately carved facade represents the Nabatean engineering genius. It was early in the morning and the sun was not with us so I am a bit sad that I did not have better fotos of the Treasury.
The Bedouins have this legend that pharaonic treasures are hidden inside the urn on top of the middle pedestal. It is not anymore allowed to enter the Treasury.
Here are the pictures taken at the end of the day, so you will notice the natural colours of the reddish stone, except for the picture of Blondine which was taken in the morning (notice the sunlight).
This was taken at the end of the day and we were soooo tired from the all-day hiking, but we still have to hike another 45-minute through the Siq route in order to get out of Petra.
The Pirates of the Caribbean aka Johnny Depp look-alike Bedouin and his camels
In front of The Treasury we found Bedouins touting their camels. The animals are so calm, sweet and lovely. Camels, together with donkeys and horses, are the only permitted forms of (traditional) transportation in Petra. Camel rental prices vary greatly so prepare to negotiate.
We met this Bedouin who looked like Johnny Depp in his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. He’s got sharp and thick charcoal black eyes and I wondered if he actually put some black eyeliner on, haha.
He told us that everyone tells him the same thing that he looks like Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean. He must have been tired hearing this every day. Anyway, I asked him if he actually has seen the movie, to which he replied with a big—NO, in an uninteresting way. I told him he should watch it one day because the character that looks like him is a hero in the movie.
He replied saying he doesn’t need to watch it, and added—‘You are a hero but you die a zero.’ Haha, I did not see that coming. Quite clever, this man!
Camel station in front of the Treasury in Petra. Rental prices for these camels vary, so negotiate, negotiate, negotiate =)
But, there is more to Petra than the world famous facade of the Treasury and I will be showing more of these to you later on in my next entries...
Next, the ‘Street Facades and the Theater’
Travel Period: April 2011
Destination: Petra (Wadi Musa), Jordan
