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.
That must have been when Bedouin families were still living there in caves. I read "I Married a Bedouin" written by a woman from New Zealand who married and lived in a cave in Petra. They were relocated later.
VERY cool to see parts and places in Petra that isn't The Treasury. Most people don't share that. I found it to be just as beautiful and fascinating as the most well known portions! Thanks Dan!
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.
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.
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.
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.
You’re assuming that humanity or civilization started in Africa or the Middle East, but we’re finding megaliths from way earlier all over the place now. Agriculture and civilization started way earlier than the era you’re even talking about, and existed in at least various spots all around the world already by 12000 years ago… or way longer
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.
I went there in the mid 1990's on a charity walk. We walked from Amman to 'Little Petra' and then onto the Treasury, sleeping in Bedouin tents errected each night along the way. We didn't approach the conventional way but from where Dan did the early introduction of the video. From up high and to the side you can see the many cut out rooms where ancient civilizations lived in the actual mountainside. It's a breathtaking view and if you can get a guide to take you up there, i'd advise that highly. When we descended into the Treasury area itself, i was able to sit up around 10' on a rock (with the aid of a giant Australian tour guide called Jeremy) and marvel at this literal wonder. Being a tiler i have an eye for a straight line and this place is amazingly 'square' at every angle, it makes you wonder how they could get these lines so straight with just a plumb bomb. Back when we were there you could walk up those steps and i still have the photos somewhere of the smoke blackened walls inside. To stand and look out from it gave a vibe of importance and you could only wonder what scenes had actually happened inside of this place. I've travelled the World and seen some amazing places but this should be one of the 'Wonders of the World'. The night sky with no light polution is spectacular, stars the size of buttons with scenery fit for ancient Kings and Queens. Jordan was/is amazing, my favourite destination for everything a wandering mind could need. I hope one day i can go back.
I explored Petra about 10 years ago. My favourite thing about the place is the lovely man at the very top of the cliffs behind the modern cafeteria who offered us free tea and was a pleasure to talk to.
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!
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.
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.
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 !! 😂🥰
I love Archaeology, ancient architecture and History. I've seen the world through your eyes and studying English at the same time - I love your british accent! You are more than I always dreamed. I'm so grateful and delighted. God bless you!
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
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.
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.
I visited Petra back in the 1970's, and it was a truly memorable trip. I can see why these amazing places are so protected now. Since the advent of the internet, archaeological sites like Petra have become infinitely more accessible. ❤
This was so amazing to watch. I did not want it to end. One of the things I was thinking about watching this poor camera person. I can’t wait to see more of what you do. Thank you so much.
Thank you immensely for a great academic exposition on Petra. Ever since Johann Ludwig Burkhardt re-discovered Petra after centuries of obscurity it was handed over to Nabateans simply because there were no claimants. None asked how a nomadic people like Nabateans could create such a magnificent city in the desert and simply vanish back into the dust of the same desert. However, I too had the previlege of doing some research but following a different thread, I was following the spread of Buddhism, that the Buddha was a Mongolian Prince and the majority of population of North India then used to be of Mongolian ethnicity. It was those Mongolian monks who had carved out Petra monastery just as they had done back in India in Ellora and Ajanta. After most of the population had emigrated to South East Asia, the land was claimed by Inndo-Saracenic people who followed Brahminic religion and who are responsible to have erased the last vestiges of Buddhism in India. Unfortunately, modern scholars enquire from the same Brahminic elements about history of Buddhism who in the first place had eradicated the former. My research however, was limited to the work of Mongolian monk missionaries and my seminal work has just one chapter dedicated to Petra monastery. My book called "The Glory of Kirat History" is published by Amazon/KDP. You may wish to check this out: historyofsanskrit.my.canva.site/download-page-website-download-page-in-black-neon-green-casual-corporate-style
😆You've got it the wrong way round how human movement and equally civilisations spread. You see for your theory to leave the realm of baseless speculative fiction, you'd expect they'd have left at least one single genetic trace "your indo-saracenics" in the Arab Region. Whereas what archeology finds is that the Nabataean Arabs and their inscriptions, Trade relations, arts, culture, guilds etc speak for themselves. As do contemporary cultures they traded with and sold to. Petra is not their only city and neither is their culture an isolate... from Yemen and east Arabia through to their other cities in north Saudi to north Syria and the Mediterranean coast. The Nabateans never disappeared, even during islamic times, arab writers spoke of "Nabatean Agriculture." Rome even possibly had a Nabataean Emperor : Philip The Arab, the city he was from was a Nabatean city way before it ever became Roman.
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.
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
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!!
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!
Went there in 2005, amazing experience. Day I went there were very few people, and explored every nook and cranny in the Treasury and the Monetary. Wonderfull memories being inside with no-one else inside.
I lived in Jordan and visited Petra a number of times and in those days you could literally walk anywhere you wanted to - inside the treasury was nothing more than a few steps. The engineering of that city was incredible, the perfection of the amphitheatre can be confirmed by the fact you can hear a whisper from the bottom, right at the top, it’s perfect. The size of Petra is amazing, the size of buildings built into the walls are colossal and to think they built this 4000 years ago without a JCB in sight!
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.
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.
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.
This is awesome! I was just there in September of this year. Did not make it to the Monastery; only made it as far as the cafe, lol. But I was not disappointed in what I saw at all! Thank you for doing this as we did not have a guide to tell us much.
Loved this walk of Petra ♥I remember getting to know about this place after watching Indiana Jones and the last crusade! Fascinating! Thanks for sharing
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! 🌟👍
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 spent two days here with my wife and two kids ages 5 and 6, it wasnt enough. I wish I had a 3rd day. We rode Camels, donkeys, horses saw both high places that you really need to take a donkey up. Every step was a picture. It was amazing. Again wished I had a 3rd day.
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 .
This took me back. It truly is the most incredible place on the planet. I still can't believe I have been there. We also went back down the siq at night, and by candelight it was truly astonishing.
The closest i have come to the middle east was Afghanistan during war-time. Didnt see much as i was in the military, so no venturing out for tourism for us. This is a nice treat. Never seen the inside of the treasury or the rest of petra. Looks like everything is cleared out of all the hidden tombs and structures. Thanks for sharing
There's an interesting book written by a woman from New Zealand who married a Bedouin she met there. They lived in caves in Petra. It's called "I Married a Bedouin." I can't remember the author's name, but she now runs a souvenir store in Petra.
I really wish more people showed more than just the treasury. I am 32, have been obsessed with ancient history since I was 5, and have visited many surrounding countries for their sites. But I only realised a few years ago that petra was more than a valley of tombs.
Ty for sharing this! It makes sense that Petra is a tomb especially below it they found skeletons. For years it wouldn't make sense to build a treasury for a nomad tribe. Very intriguing. There's alot more than what i ever found. ty!
I can’t believe this content is free. Its the greatest gift to someone who loves to learn, I really could cry
Don’t cry, you won’t be able to see the video!
You are absolutely right, what a great thing.
Its called ad revenue idk if you are familiar with YT
It's not free... You're paying for it, albeit indirectly.
What are you talking about?
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.
Good thing about rock, is its still as real now as it was 50 years ago... and 8000 years ago.
Wow!
That must have been when Bedouin families were still living there in caves. I read "I Married a Bedouin" written by a woman from New Zealand who married and lived in a cave in Petra. They were relocated later.
Wow, thank you for sharing that story, really interesting and a definite added bonus to this tour video of Petra. 👍
To walk those hand carved stairs, right where people ventured 2000 years ago is such an astonishing privilege. thanks for sharing!
This channel is a gift to the history community with the amount of great free information it provides
*As the saying goes: when it's free, you're the product.*
*Don't you understand how UA-cam's economic model works?*
*Get a basic clue!*
Thank you. Had no idea Petra was so very large. This show has been an eye opener for me.
take 3 days is what I recommend. I spent two 8 hour days and wished I had a third
VERY cool to see parts and places in Petra that isn't The Treasury. Most people don't share that. I found it to be just as beautiful and fascinating as the most well known portions! Thanks Dan!
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.
....and well done to the camera man lugging all that gear up all of those steps.
yes, I always think of him, lol!
I can see the ecstacy in his eyes. Man i love history.
Me too. Love time traveling privileges in an age when 'Machines' are not needed if you can read or have access to channels like this.
You should read the Quran then
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.
I was there just last week!
The thing I remember about visiting Petra was I got to ride the black horse. Very important for a 10 year old.
Thank you for all the hard work in making these excellent videos.
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.
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.
I’ve heard many accounts and theories about it, including occupier after occupier leaving scorched earth.
@@marianparoo1544
I've heard it was built by aliens, doesn't mean it's true.
You’re assuming that humanity or civilization started in Africa or the Middle East, but we’re finding megaliths from way earlier all over the place now. Agriculture and civilization started way earlier than the era you’re even talking about, and existed in at least various spots all around the world already by 12000 years ago… or way longer
Can I get an amen 🙏 up in here 🙏
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.
I went there in the mid 1990's on a charity walk. We walked from Amman to 'Little Petra' and then onto the Treasury, sleeping in Bedouin tents errected each night along the way.
We didn't approach the conventional way but from where Dan did the early introduction of the video. From up high and to the side you can see the many cut out rooms where ancient civilizations lived in the actual mountainside. It's a breathtaking view and if you can get a guide to take you up there, i'd advise that highly. When we descended into the Treasury area itself, i was able to sit up around 10' on a rock (with the aid of a giant Australian tour guide called Jeremy) and marvel at this literal wonder. Being a tiler i have an eye for a straight line and this place is amazingly 'square' at every angle, it makes you wonder how they could get these lines so straight with just a plumb bomb. Back when we were there you could walk up those steps and i still have the photos somewhere of the smoke blackened walls inside. To stand and look out from it gave a vibe of importance and you could only wonder what scenes had actually happened inside of this place.
I've travelled the World and seen some amazing places but this should be one of the 'Wonders of the World'. The night sky with no light polution is spectacular, stars the size of buttons with scenery fit for ancient Kings and Queens.
Jordan was/is amazing, my favourite destination for everything a wandering mind could need. I hope one day i can go back.
I explored Petra about 10 years ago. My favourite thing about the place is the lovely man at the very top of the cliffs behind the modern cafeteria who offered us free tea and was a pleasure to talk to.
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!
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.
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 learned so much more about Petra than the usual documentaries. Five 👍🏼!
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 !! 😂🥰
It really is an incredible place to visit. I got to visit in 2018
I also visited in 2018. Didn't try to visit the Monetary though- it would have been too much for my bad knee.
I love Archaeology, ancient architecture and History. I've seen the world through your eyes and studying English at the same time - I love your british accent! You are more than I always dreamed. I'm so grateful and delighted. God bless you!
I can't imagine going all the way there and turning around without seeing everything. What a waste. That monastery is incredible.
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
@@chryoung-db2iwevery country will let you bring eye drops
Thanks for making my Bus 🚌 ride to Work 10x more enjoyable...
Went a couple of years ago , it didnt disappoint, Jeresh was also fabulous , a must see if you love archeology.
Absolutely fantastic!
Just saw the new Expedition Unknown episode about Petra tonight.
Fascinating research going on there.
"We named the dog Indiana!" Site if one of the best film trilogy endings ever... no new Indiana Jones films count.
I visited Petra 5 years ago. It is incredibly beautiful. Visiting Jordan was a wonderful experience. The people and places are unforgettable.
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.
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.
Wow Outstanding Site We Appreciate You 👍🏼
Wow this is amazing! Thank you all for putting this together
Wow what a fascinating place. I really hope I can visit some day
Such an amazing array of architecture from a culture we know so little about.
Dan is becoming a national treasure. Great content and video.
I visited Petra back in the 1970's, and it was a truly memorable trip. I can see why these amazing places are so protected now. Since the advent of the internet, archaeological sites like Petra have become infinitely more accessible. ❤
This was so amazing to watch. I did not want it to end. One of the things I was thinking about watching this poor camera person. I can’t wait to see more of what you do. Thank you so much.
I was lucy enough to visit in the mid 80s when there were no fenced off areas such as the Treasury and the Amphitheatre. Explored all.
Great episode..
Thank you immensely for a great academic exposition on Petra. Ever since Johann Ludwig Burkhardt re-discovered Petra after centuries of obscurity it was handed over to Nabateans simply because there were no claimants. None asked how a nomadic people like Nabateans could create such a magnificent city in the desert and simply vanish back into the dust of the same desert. However, I too had the previlege of doing some research but following a different thread, I was following the spread of Buddhism, that the Buddha was a Mongolian Prince and the majority of population of North India then used to be of Mongolian ethnicity. It was those Mongolian monks who had carved out Petra monastery just as they had done back in India in Ellora and Ajanta. After most of the population had emigrated to South East Asia, the land was claimed by Inndo-Saracenic people who followed Brahminic religion and who are responsible to have erased the last vestiges of Buddhism in India. Unfortunately, modern scholars enquire from the same Brahminic elements about history of Buddhism who in the first place had eradicated the former. My research however, was limited to the work of Mongolian monk missionaries and my seminal work has just one chapter dedicated to Petra monastery. My book called "The Glory of Kirat History" is published by Amazon/KDP. You may wish to check this out: historyofsanskrit.my.canva.site/download-page-website-download-page-in-black-neon-green-casual-corporate-style
😆You've got it the wrong way round how human movement and equally civilisations spread. You see for your theory to leave the realm of baseless speculative fiction, you'd expect they'd have left at least one single genetic trace "your indo-saracenics" in the Arab Region. Whereas what archeology finds is that the Nabataean Arabs and their inscriptions, Trade relations, arts, culture, guilds etc speak for themselves. As do contemporary cultures they traded with and sold to. Petra is not their only city and neither is their culture an isolate... from Yemen and east Arabia through to their other cities in north Saudi to north Syria and the Mediterranean coast. The Nabateans never disappeared, even during islamic times, arab writers spoke of "Nabatean Agriculture." Rome even possibly had a Nabataean Emperor : Philip The Arab, the city he was from was a Nabatean city way before it ever became Roman.
This was fantastic to watch. Petra is such imo an iconic human and geological landmark. Cool video.
Absolutely fantastic!!! I love this!!!! Dan Snow.....my new Historian crush!
I listened to the podcast, and I've been waiting for this video! 😀
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.
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
Indiana Snow and the temple of Petra.
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!!
Petra has been on my must visit list for about 30 years.
Brilliant thanks! Can’t walk that far now so really enjoyed this
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!
Went there in 2005, amazing experience. Day I went there were very few people, and explored every nook and cranny in the Treasury and the Monetary. Wonderfull memories being inside with no-one else inside.
Wow this is great, this channel is the best.
I shall catch the plane to go there, yes, sir! Such a beautifull and magical place.
This was magnificent. Thanks for taking us with you on tour. 😊💕
Fantastic!
I love watching your videos.
Petra is one of my favourite ancient sites on Earth.
Always love seeing & hearing more about it.
Thank you
I lived in Jordan and visited Petra a number of times and in those days you could literally walk anywhere you wanted to - inside the treasury was nothing more than a few steps. The engineering of that city was incredible, the perfection of the amphitheatre can be confirmed by the fact you can hear a whisper from the bottom, right at the top, it’s perfect. The size of Petra is amazing, the size of buildings built into the walls are colossal and to think they built this 4000 years ago without a JCB in sight!
Great video Dan, and props on rocking the Indy hat :)
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.
Thank you for sharing the hat is a nice touch
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.
Like an old west false front.
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.
6:15 so it wasn't Giotto who drew the perfect circle first afterall. Imagine carving a perfect circle from that rock! Impressive.
Very bold of Dan Snow to go in there. Remember: "Only the penitent man will pass."
I typed this before reading yours lol
This is the video that got me to subscribe. Excellent production
Anyone reading this should definitely watch the Fall of Civilizations video on the Nabataeans as a companion piece.
Amazing. I never realized what Petra was! So vast and huge. Thank for this treasure of a tour.
I quite enjoyed this episode, thanks Dan & team
Amazing! Thank you so much for this adventure❣️
Just amazing!! Petra is something else. Can you imagine how it was 2000 years ago
What a stunning place, definitely on my places to visit list...😊
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.
History Hit? History Gobsmack more like. Great channel.
I was there a couple of weeks ago. It really is Majestic.
Thank for making the video. I learned a lot.
you made my day, such a detailed and unique video. A bundle of thanks
The insides of some of those tombs remind me of Jupiter.
Thank you Dan, have liked and subscribed and loved every moment of the tour.....More Please. ❤️🇬🇧
This is awesome! I was just there in September of this year. Did not make it to the Monastery; only made it as far as the cafe, lol. But I was not disappointed in what I saw at all! Thank you for doing this as we did not have a guide to tell us much.
I studied in the Middle East during college for a semester and spent a day in Petra. So amazing!
Loved this walk of Petra ♥I remember getting to know about this place after watching Indiana Jones and the last crusade! Fascinating! Thanks for sharing
Thank you!
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! 🌟👍
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 loved Jordan, too. It's an amazing country, with beautiful people and places.
I spent two days here with my wife and two kids ages 5 and 6, it wasnt enough. I wish I had a 3rd day. We rode Camels, donkeys, horses saw both high places that you really need to take a donkey up. Every step was a picture. It was amazing. Again wished I had a 3rd day.
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 .
This took me back. It truly is the most incredible place on the planet. I still can't believe I have been there. We also went back down the siq at night, and by candelight it was truly astonishing.
I've always wanted to visit Petra! Thank you.
Petra is a wonderful place. I didn't get enough time there as I was on a group tour. I hope to get back there & explore it all!
So cool, thanks Dan, I think you've convinced me
Dan Snow is the very best.....
The closest i have come to the middle east was Afghanistan during war-time. Didnt see much as i was in the military, so no venturing out for tourism for us. This is a nice treat. Never seen the inside of the treasury or the rest of petra. Looks like everything is cleared out of all the hidden tombs and structures. Thanks for sharing
Every tour of this place is so different!
This is fantastic. I wonder how they built it.
Lots and lots of sweat, plus hammers and chisels and hammer-stones.
Lots of slaves, I'm sure.
Brings back memories when I visited Jordon and Petra about 7 years ago.
There's an interesting book written by a woman from New Zealand who married a Bedouin she met there. They lived in caves in Petra. It's called "I Married a Bedouin." I can't remember the author's name, but she now runs a souvenir store in Petra.
I really wish more people showed more than just the treasury. I am 32, have been obsessed with ancient history since I was 5, and have visited many surrounding countries for their sites. But I only realised a few years ago that petra was more than a valley of tombs.
Ty for sharing this! It makes sense that Petra is a tomb especially below it they found skeletons. For years it wouldn't make sense to build a treasury for a nomad tribe. Very intriguing. There's alot more than what i ever found. ty!
Incredible 🧡🧐🌸