Virtually explore this archaeological city with Smarthistory as your guide
videos + essays
We're adding new content all the time!
Petra: The rose red city of the Nabataeans
The ancient Nabateans cut Petra, their monumental city, from cliffs of rose red stone.
Petra: UNESCO Siq Project
The Siq, Petra’s canyon entrance, is cracking. The cliffs threaten to fall, and scientists race to find a solution.
Petra: urban metropolis
These structures could only have been made in Petra, where Greek and eastern traditions were combined.
Petra: rock-cut façades
More than tombs? Scholars once thought Petra was only a large necropolis, but archaeology shows it was much more.
