He was wanted by the crusaders, scientists and adventurers of all kinds. The wealth hidden in it, did not give peace and Christian rulers, and Muslim rulers. But a century after century the search was fruitless and about Peter talked about how beautiful legend, while in 1812, a Swiss traveler could not find the Ghost city.

Mythical nomads-builders

When and by whom was built Peter, still remains a mystery. Most historians believe that it was built by the nomads-the Nabataeans, who came to Jordan for a thousand years before Christ. But this version is a little that clarifies. In fact, about the Nabataeans little is known. Scientists still do not know why this people, and disappeared.

They could be the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, or the lost of Israel knee since the destruction of the First Temple, or mystical caste... whatever it was, but at that time they hunted these strangers desert, all the wealth which fits over the hump camel, robberies. Rare caravan could avoid looting by the Nabataeans. They are terrified by merchants and travelers. For two centuries it warlike tribe "took control" huge territory of modern Jordan, Syria and Israel.

The loot was brought to a lost valley in the mountains, where nomads began to build their city. The ancient laws forbade them to build, but the wily Nabataeans found a way out. Instead of houses made of logs and clay they cut housing made of stone.

The glory of the city reached other countries. In Peter in searches of the best share reached people. The city grew rich, and the Nabataeans, "perikova swords into ploughshares", engaged in trade. Peter was not just a caravanserai on the way merchants, she played the role of the exchange. Many merchants do not dare to go further through the wilderness and delivered the goods to its citizens, and they then it was sold. Here even went coins own coinage.

It seemed that nothing could prevent the blossom of the city and on, but the soldiers of the great Roman already built insidious plans capture thriving metropolis in the wilderness.

Legionnaires few months unsuccessfully besieged impregnable walls of the city, while not thought to apply the trick. They turned off the water, and dying of thirst were forced to surrender. Peter became part of the Roman province, but still there was a brisk trade.

Since IV century BC Nabatea gradually dissolved in the Christian Byzantium and disappears in the middle Ages.

When here came the Arabs, they met a dead city. The impression was that Peter was hit by a dreadful epidemic overnight destroyed them all and all.

Open sesame!

Opening of Petra was due to the Swiss traveler and Explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt that in 1812, disguised as a wealthy merchant who traveled across the expanses of Egypt, Cairo, Syria and Jerusalem. One day, accompanied by a local Bedouin guide BURKHARDT has entered into a mountain gorge, becoming every meter all already. When the strip of sky became almost indistinguishable, and their eyes were opened an amazing sight - the ancient temple of amazing beauty, twinkling rosy-red glow...

The city is so impressed by the researcher that the guide decided that the merchant has devil. BURKHARDT jumped and jumped for joy. As soon as the news about the opening of the city spread around the world, as in Peter procession reached historians, archaeologists and robbers. In this neighbourhood were "digging out of the rock" buildings, temples, tombs, canals, shops, baths... Excavations was delayed for two centuries and revealed only half of the buildings. And studied of these, only 15 percent.

The ancient city stretches for several kilometers. From East to West padded main street, decorated on the sides by a colonnade. At its Eastern end is trakpro-flight-arc de Triomphe, and on the West is the great temple. One of the main architectural monuments of Petra is also the ancient theatre of 3000 people, entirely carved into the rock. The theatre was built in the beginning of the I century of our era, almost at the same time with its majestic carved into the rock at the top of the cliff monastery El Deir. The building of a width of about 50 meters and a height of 45 metres with carved on the walls crosses long served the Christian monks. Soon it was adapted to the needs of musulman. From the slope next to El Darom you can see mount Jebel Haroun with another Church construction on top. This is the famous white mosque, small and modest in its decoration of the tomb of Aaron, brother of Moses. According to the legends, Peter is exactly the place where Moses struck his staff in stone, and from it had been injected water. Here lie the relics of the prophet. Many scientists called Peter and burial. Indeed, tombs in the rocks for thousands.

Nabateans created a complex engineering facility with canals and dams, given the differences in elevation in the mountains. In the city there were about 200 tanks for rainwater, and through the Siq received water collected outside the capital.

And now you can see in the Siq the remains of an ancient water trough. Somewhere over the aqueduct, an arched stone bridges. Interestingly, the Nabateans used two troughs of hygienic reasons: one in the city was supplied with drinking water from other water for livestock and irrigation plants. According to the archeologists, Peter lived up to 30 thousand people.

The Mystery Of The Holy Grail

According to one version, in Petra is stored some of the treasures of the pharaohs. On the other, there is a hidden spiritual treasure, the Holy Grail, which came here crusaders. Historians say that the Nabateans themselves could accumulate enough gold and jewels.

Specialists with great zeal explore dungeons legendary city. It is in them, according to some sources, can hide countless riches of the Nabataeans. The main value of which is historical. Through Peter have passed major caravan routes of the ancient world, so here you can find the priceless artifacts. It is possible that here rescuing it from the Arabs, brought and the famous library at Alexandria. The study untouched by looters artificial caves called the underground opening of Atlantis!

Main place, long popular among hunters, El Hasna. In Arabic - "Treasury" or "Treasury". In search of gold Bedouin even shot from guns facade of the building. Interestingly, the top of this building there is a large stone pot. Among Bedouin legend has it that it is just hidden ancient treasures. They say that in the pot is successfully enter and then marksman will literally showered with gold and precious stones. But this is only a legend.

To date, scientists have studied only a small part of the stone city. Excavated those buildings that are close to the surface of the earth. It seems that Peter just now starting to open its main secrets.