The main route into the desert city of Petra in present-day Jordan is breath-taking. In ancient times, a triumphal arch donated by Emperor Hadrian led into a spectacular gorge. It’s more than a kilometre or two thirds of a mile long, and the looming rock walls are up to 80 metres or 260 feet high. This gorge is known as the Siq.
But at the point where the gorge is at its narrowest and becomes oppressively gloomy, a rocky basin suddenly opens out, flooded with light, and you find yourself standing in front of the huge façade of a tomb carved into the rock.
In the morning sun the sandstone of the two-storey façade glows in shades of red – that’s due to its iron oxide content. If you carry on walking towards the city centre, you come to a rock terrace and what’s known as the "royal tombs". On the panel to your left is the Palace Tomb with its towering, five-storey façade. Next to it is the heavily weathered Corinthian Tomb.
The Natural History Society was fortunate enough to be able to carry out archaeological excavations in this spectacular setting.
As early as 1973, our member Manfred Lindner had received permission to carry out excavations in Petra and to investigate the settlements in the surrounding area. Extensive excavations followed. So today our museum is able to present original finds from the ancient city – as the only museum north of the Alps to enjoy that privilege!
Join us for a tour of the history and culture of the people who lived in the desert city of Petra some 2,000 years ago: the Nabataeans.
