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Pre-Islamic Arabia

One feature of pre-Islamic Arabia was the combination of cultures, languages and artistic traditions.

Pre-Islamic Arabia

by Dr. Beatrice Leal

Madain Saleh — Formerly known as Hegra it is the largest conserved site of the civilization of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan

Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih)

by UNESCO

So-called Treasury (Khazneh), Petra (Jordan), 2nd century C.E., photo: Colin Tsoi, CC BY-ND 2.0) — The ancient Nabateans cut Petra, their monumental city, from cliffs of rose red stone.

Petra: The rose red city of the ...

by Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay

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: UNESCO Siq Project

by UNESCO

So-called Great Temple, Petra (Jordan) (photo: Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0) — These structures could only have been made in Petra, where Greek and eastern traditions were combined.

Petra: urban metropolis

by Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay

So-called Monastery, or ed-Deir, Petra (Jordan) (photo: April Rinne, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) — More than tombs? Scholars once thought Petra was only a large necropolis, but archaeology shows it was much more.

Petra: rock-cut façades

by Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay