Petra – The Magnificent Treasury Close Up – Photos.

Posted on by Opher

It was quite amazing to be able to study the Treasury close up. It was majestic.

You could clearly see the pock-marks where the Muslim soldiers had used it as target practice. They believe there should be no images of people (based on an instruction in the Koran that there should be no worshipping of images). They deface any images they come across.

The camels and donkeys wait patiently, apprehensively waiting for the time they will be required to transport obese westerners around the site.

Those images that have survived the rifles are eroded with time – sandblasted by the wind.

A place for selfies.

The military guard was selected for his prowess.

Inside the building, it was nowhere near as opulent – rather dark and cramped. But I imagine that back in time, when it was used for important trade meetings, it would have been lavishly decorated, adorned and suitably lit.

Petra – First sight of the fabulous Treasury – photos

Posted on by Opher

As we walked along the long cleft in the rock we finally came to the end.  In between the two sides of the cleft a slice of pink sculpted rock peeped through. It looked beautiful.

With every step the size of the slice grew bigger.

Until, finally, we stepped out to see the Treasury in all its glory.

Carved by the Nabateans thousands of years ago, out of the sandstone cliff, with its columns, sculptings and embellishments it shone pinkly like a marvellous palace.

The effect on a 21st-century traveller, used to seeing the world’s most incredible sights, was breath-taking. One could only imagine the effect on a naive trader from ancient times.

It was designed to be impressive. This building screamed power. That was what it had been created for.

Petra was the centre of trade. Inside this building (nowhere near as impressive) the traders were seated, plied with food and drink, and the negotiations began.

The wealthy merchants of Petra already had the upper hand.

Outside the Treasury the tourists milled around as traders offered them camel rides and trinkets.

A placid, adorned camel was strategically placed. I obliged.