PETRA

The ancient city of Petra is situated in the Valley of Moses (Wadi Musa).

According to tradition it is close to the place where Moses hit the rocks and water came out.   The valley is formed from red, purple and yellow tinted sandstone.   It is generally accepted that ‘ha-sela’ (‘the rock’), the Edomite town (2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chronicles 25:12) is that which in fact refers to Petra.

The area was inhabited by the Edomites (ancestors of Esau) from about 1200 BC.   Centuries later the Nabateans, an Arabian tribe, lived in the area and made Petra the capital of their kingdom.   In 106 AD the Nabateans were defeated by the Romans and Petra became part of the Roman province of Arabia.   Following an earthquake in 551 AD the city was left uninhabited.   In the 7^th century the city was taken over by Islam and a Crusader castle from the 12^th century is the first sign of European activity in the area.   After the Crusaders the city was unknown to westerners until its rediscovery by a Swiss traveller, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.

Die outydse stad van Petra is in die Mosesvallei (Wadi Musa) geleë.

Volgens tradisie is dit naby aan die plek waar Moses die rots geslaan het en water daaruit gekom het.  Die vallei is deur rooi, pers en geel gekleurde sandsteen gevorm.  Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat “he-sela” (“die rots”), die Edomiete dorp (2 Konings 14:7; 2 Kronieke 25:12) na Petra verwys.

Die area was deur die Edomiete (voorvaders van Esau) vanaf ongeveer 1200 v.C. bewoon.  Eeue later het die Nabateans, ‘n Arabiese stam, in die gebied gewoon en Petra die hoofstad van hul koninkryk gemaak.  In 106 n.C. is die Nabateans deur die Romeine verslaan en Petra het deel van die Romeinse provinsie van Arabia geword.  Na ‘n aardskudding in 551 n.C is die stad onbewoon gelaat.  In die 7de eeu is die stad deur Islam oorgeneem.  ‘n Crusader kasteel van die 12de eeu is die eerste teken van Europese ontwikkeling in die gebied.  Na die Crusaders was die stad aan Westers onbekend totdat dit weer in 1812 deur ‘n Switse reisiger, Johann Ludwig Burchkart, ontdek is.