Spent the summer of 1977 there on an archaeology project. Virtually NO tourists back then (a couple of small group tours ventured in -- special events for us digging and scraping away!). No entry requirements. If we wanted a cold cola, we had to walk back up the Siq to a government rest house; we did that only a couple of times. No tourist hotels anywhere in and around Petra. Wadi Musa police chief gave three of us a ride from the King's Highway into town and brought us to his house for tea and pastries, before getting us horses for the ride into Petra proper (I was traveling from with two women, one of whom was an instructor in Kuwait who spoke fluent Arabic). Regular visits from the Jordanian army. If you listened carefully, you could hear Israeli jets training across the border. 03:00: I was a day late joining my project (flight was canceled from London to Amman); so our little party had to rent horses for the late afternoon trek to the first view of Petra, the spectacular Treasury. One of the best summers of my life. The friendly Bedul riding horses and some armed with old rifles -- and inviting us to their tents for evening meals and entertainment (first event was slaughtering a goat for the cooking pot). Cannot compare with the touristy scene you see today. Glad I was there almost a half-century ago when it was really real.
When we went to Petra it was after dark. The way in was lit by dozens of candles in brown paper bags - incredibly atmospheric. Our arrival at The Treasury, also beautifully lit was amazing. Jordan is well worth a visit, several amazing places to experience.
Dan Snow is extraordinary, I never tire of watching his documentaries. And his carefully chosen fellow presenters are great too. We are so lucky that he offers some of his documentaries on History Hit You Tube too.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching that. Ancient sites such as this fascinate me. Unfortunately due to limited mobility I’ll never get to see these places in person, but this is the next best thing. Thank you.
When I was young, my dad told us a story of his trip to Petra as a young British Navey officer soon after the Second World War finished. Most interesting after a long hike in and out, they were picked up by an army truck, part way along the drive, they became snow bound for a few days, subsequently requiring a food drop from the british airforce. I know it was true as we have old photos of Petra and the navey men sheltering in the back of the truck.
Great job! Dan, you covered things that many Petra docs don't. We were there for three days (stayed at the Petra Guest House at the entrance to Petra). Thanks for mentioning the Monastery, which many miss, the view is spectacular. Also thanks for mentioning of the restaurant, which had excellent Fatteh and great tea.
On my second day there I went through Wadi Muthlim which is a pretty incredible hike in itself and at the end of the Wadi turned left and found the stairs going up to the viewpoint over looking the treasury. I watched the Sun flow down the cliff face of the treasury slowly lighting it up as it rose higher. I was the only up there and looking down on all the people who were like tiny ants moving around.
On second viewing I'd definitely be happy with the 800 steps. Most astonishing place, one wonders, it only the 400 CE earthquake hadn't gone off, how much more of this amazing city would be there now. An astounding and magical place, a real Wonder Of The World. Nice one once again, Dan & team! 🌟👍
Excellent tour! Fascinating to see that one building being SO much smaller, even though it is the postcard pic for Petra, but then the city just goes on and on. Now I understand why it really was such a big deal at the time! Thank you, Dan and the team!
They lucky at lest they don’t have eye deasise I may not be able to any more with my uveitis in less I can bring eye drops will never be able to visit anywhere abroad
Thank you, thank you! I was completely unaware of the full extent of Petra! Usually one only sees a photo of the Treasury facade and a brief paragraph. This was so incredible to see the interior and yes, the natural beauty of the rock could not be improved upon by wall paintings. Glorious!
Fantastic video, incredible how people used to live in such spectacular cities in the desert. A comparable video on the lost city of Garama would be amazing
When the Wadi was created Jordan wasn't a desert. The further you go back in time, the wetter North Africa and the Middle East were. It was once incredibly fertile, that is why humans stopped being hunter-gatherers and began practicing agriculture.
Amazing video best trip around Petra I have ever seen. Thank you. I have always wanted to visit but I doubt I will ever get the chance. I find it a fascinating place and not just because my name is Petra !! 😂🥰
The site appeared in films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Arabian Nights, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, The Mummy Returns, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and many more.
I always wondered what was in there , it would make a great Wetherspoons , especially after a long hike in the hot sun . Thanks for showing people what a brilliant civilization can do some time ago , makes you wonder what tools they had at the time to create such structures compared to today .
Since I first saw Indiana Jones and the last Crusade my dream is to go to Petra with Indy´s cowboy hat exaclty like Dan just did it! Congrats on the great video!!
I always love to see Petra...and its multitude of uses in cinema lol As an aside, I can also highly recommend Paul Cooper's Fall of Civilisations Podcast episode on Petra for a compelling and exhaustive exploration of Petra.
I went to Petra in 2017, however I would recommend riding the donkey up those steps, as it was a lot less exhausting for me. Petra is one of the coolest places you will ever see on Earth.
What strikes me about Petra is the complete lack of windows. It seems like all those giant structures are just single floored buildings with extremely small interiors, and the facade outside is simply there as a sign of wealth. Especially that monastery at the end, I would expect to see windows all over the place higher up, but it's probably just a collection of rooms and nothing more on the ground floor. It's a strange design but it clearly worked for them.
yes well wayyyy too much work probably, and what they did carve out is amazing. I am certain their own dwellings were fine enough, let's see what lies under that rubble! Just imagine how that city looked during antiquity, what marvel it must have been, both while sovereign and under Roman rule. Wish I could see it then.
I mean, cause what we saw now were mostly tombs, and then the amphitheater and temple area. I'd imagine there would be palatial structures perhaps, if they don't think such existed within the already found temple area. I'd imagine more living quarters, and perhaps more humble such, would be found in the surrounding area.
I've been to 70+ countries, Jordan is in my top 3, Petra is absolutely fantastic, I could have spent a week there, amazing history ,Johann Ludwig Burckhardt's "discovery" of Petra is pure Indiana Jones stuff
I was thinking "800 steps? They're not HUGE steps.. 650 ft or something? 3x Beverley Minster plus a bit.. Blimey. Rather you than me, mate.." Nice one Dan and team! 🌟👍
@imafuturecorpse2443 oh sure I get that. Not a reason to stop people pointing out that none of it was down to his own talent or initiative. He'll never feel he's earned it.
Dan, You've forgotten two other items to bring. Along with the good shoes, plenty of liquid, and a hat, I highly recommend sunglasses and sunblock. It is especially important for those people from cold dreary northern countries that are lacking skin pigmentation.
I was able to visit Petra over 2 days about 14 years ago. The day I climbed the 800 stairs it was raining so the steps were a bit slippery. Another thing to see there...up on the other side of the stream bed, is the ruin of a very early Christian church. The baptismal was most interesting.
Two things he missed. In front of the treasury and other places, is where there are pits where bodies were buried! Also, there is a gated area with a nice cave well carved and of birds, vines, trees. Probably a Roman merchant’s paintings rest room. Shame he did not visit it. If went back in time, Petra would be green and colorful.
This site fascinates me and I truly don't know why. There's no grand mystery, it's all pretty "solved" as far as archeology is concerned. Many sites present a how or why element to them but this seems pretty straightforward and I still want to know about every structure. Weird.
I really love your videos but would you mind dropping the audible subscribe click you do a couple of times in each video? Going on this fantastic journey through history and you get this jarring click noise multiple times per video.
Stupid to go there,see one thing then leave! Would love too see ALL of,but not the best place for a wheelchair 😅 so its great to see more 9f the place here at least 😃❤️
