The Urn Tomb
On its arches.
hikinginjordan — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Michael Gunther — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dudva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adeeb Atwan — CC BY 3.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Boris Debic — CC BY-SA 4.0
A row of huge façades carved into the flank of Jabal al-Khubtha, looking over the heart of Petra, in the Nabataean take on Hellenistic architecture. Time and wind have softened their details and brought out the coloured veins of the stone. First comes the Urn Tomb, with its broad terrace raised on arches, turned into a church in 446 AD. Then the Silk Tomb, whose façade ripples with bands of red, yellow and white sandstone like silk. Next is the Corinthian Tomb, echoing the design of the Treasury, and then the Palace Tomb, with its wide, many-storeyed front, thought to have been a burial place for Petra's kings. A short stairway climbs to them from the main street, and the Urn Tomb terrace gives a wide view over the theatre and the Colonnaded Street. They look their best in the afternoon, when the sun slants across the façades.
On its arches.
Rippling colours.
A wide façade.
Jabal al-Khubtha, Petra
PetraThe Nabataean capital carved into rose sandstone in southern Jordan, and one of 6 minutes walk4.9
Al-Khazneh (The Treasury)Petra's most famous monument and its most elaborate rock-cut tomb, carved by the9 minutes walk4.9
High Place of SacrificeA Nabataean ritual platform on the summit of Jabal al-Madhbah above central Petr9 minutes walk4.7
The SiqThe rock passage into the Nabataean city of Petra, winding about 1.2 km between 11 minutes walk4.9The Silk Tomb, whose façade ripples with red, yellow and white bands of sandstone, clearest in the afternoon light.