Like the "Treasury," the name "Monastery" is a rather inaccurate nickname, which is probably based on its remote location and some inscribed crosses in the interior. Although it may have been later used as a church it was probably a temple. It may have been dedicated to the deified Nabatean king Obodas I, who reigned in the 1st century BC.
The Monastery is beautifully carved, though much less decorated than the Treasury, and so huge that even the doorway is several stories tall. The entire temple is 50 m high x 45m wide.
Look at the pictures.....you'll see us standing in the doorway...look closely, we are ant sized!
Tomorrow we wake up bright and early to take a bus 2 hours into Jordan's Wadi Rum desert for 3 days of hiking, camel trekking and camping under the stars.
Now if I could just get all of the fine pink dust out of everything I was wearing....it's invasive and stains when it gets wet...my shoes may be a write off!
Bye Petra! Leaving at dusk through the siq. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment