Petra

Naj, Guard, niche in canyon, first viee of Treasury, church, mosaic, baptistery, weary pilgrims!
Sunday Nov 9th Naj our excellent guide promised a 5 mile walk around Petra and this sounded daunting but in fact it was relatively flat. We decided not to go on horse, camel or bouncy carriage! There is quite a long walk through the canyon to reach the city and an added touch were the Nabatean "guards". The Nabateans were very successful traders throughout the region and they used Aramaic. There are 4 different kinds of tomb - tower, localis, obelisk and royal. Water was crucial to the city and there is a water course through the canyon and reservoirs nearby. It was built between 7th century B.C. to 1st century A.D. You actually descend 1000 feet from the canyon entrance to the treasury so water could flow down to the city. Caravans did not come through the canyon as it is too narrow in places. From 63 B.C. to 106 A.D. the Romans were in the area and eventually they conquered the hidden city in 106 A.D. By the 4th century A.D. there was a bishop and the Romans left in the 7th century A.D. In the 12th century Crusader castles were built. 13th century Muslims occupied and in the 18th century Bedouins started using the tombs as homes. In 1812 Johann Burckhardt came disguised as an Arab.
As we neared the city, all those who had not been before formed up as an "army" with our backs to the entrance and moved into position to turn and see the first stunning view of the Treasury. This was built in the 1st century B.C. It has a Greek urn at the top and Alexandrian capitals. There are 4 eagles, 6 Amazon figures and Isis.
We saw also the entrances to the Royal tombs and tombs for the poor. The unfinished Palace tomb became a church. We followed the Roman road to the market and enjoyed a good lunch together. The 4th century Byzantine church has fine mosaics and one of the largest baptisteries in the East.
In the evening we had Mass in the hotel meeting room - another excellent homily. At dinner we enjoyed white wine of the Holy Land with Anne and Brian from Milford Haven.