Petra is an historical and archaeological city in Jordan that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Established possibly as early as 312 BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan and its most visited tourist attraction.

Petra lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. UNESCO has described it as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”. It was also chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the “28 Places to See Before You Die.” [Source: Wikipedia]

The Monastery, Petra’s largest monument, dates from the 1st century BC. It was dedicated to Obodas I and is believed to be the symposium of Obodas the god. This information is inscribed on the ruins of the Monastery (the name is the translation of the Arabic “Ad Deir”). To appreciate the incredible size of the monument, just look at the person for scale.