Petra’s history is as rich and varied as the colors that bounce off its towering sandstone rocks. The word Petra comes from “petrae” which means “rock.” Back in 1200 BCE, this area was home to the Edomites, as it was biblically assigned to the Horites, who were the predecessors of the Edomites. The Edomites largely influenced the trade routes to Damascus and Arabia and were known for their textiles, writing, ceramic artistry and metal working.

Next came the Persian period when the Nabataeans forced the Edomites out to the south of Palestine and migrated into Edom. By 312 BC, they made Petra their capital city. During the Seleucids’ and Ptolemies’ rule, the area gained prominence with enhanced trade; new towns such as Gerasa and Philadelphia emerged. The Nabataeans were able to control the caravan routes between Syria and Arabia and soon Petra became a hub for the spice trade. Their influence extended to Aqaba, Gaza, Amman, Palmyra and across the Syrian desert. However, their greatest achievement was the hydraulic system they created to control flash floods which frequently occurred during winter.

In 63 BCE, Pompey conquered the Nabataeans and the region was taxed by the Romans. Later in 106 CE, Emperor Trajan made Nabataea a Romance province and named it Arabia Petraea. The name Petra was coined after Hadriane Petra who visited this site in 131 CE. With each new ruler, the city flourished and even through the 363 CE earthquake, Petra retained its vitality. Over time, the trade routes changed and so did Petra’s fate. Eventually, in 551 CE this city was almost destroyed by a devastating earthquake.

In 1812, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, a Swiss explorer re-discovered Petra and introduced it to the western world.