Treasury wonder

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JORDAN

THE TREASURY
الخزنة

October 2019 • Canon 80D camera


UNESCO World Heritage site
Part of Petra

We woke up at around 5am and had breakfast at the hotel at 05:30. Our aim was to get to the entrance of Petra by 06:15 to avoid the crowds. We had bought tickets last night so we could quickly go through in the morning. There was already a small queue when we arrived.

The sun had started to rise but the sky was still a dark blue colour. Rock cliffs were towering above us as we walked through The Siq السيق , a dim, narrow gorge. It was truly outwardly walking through here. The plan was to photograph the end of The Siq that leads to the entrance before a lot of people would appear.


The Treasury

al-Khazneh الخزنة

A dream come true, as I stood in front of the photogenic Treasury facade. Smaller than I had expected, but spectacular to see up close. It is the grandest tomb in Petra, showcasing the staggering rock-cut engineering of the Nabataean people. There was a lot more detail on the facade that you would not have seen in photos.

Despite the name, the monument is believed to have been the royal tomb of the Nabatean King Aretas IV, in the 1st century AD. The 'Treasury' name came from bedouins in the early 19th century as they believed it held treasures from an Egyptian Pharaoh. It stands 39 metres high and 25 metres wide.


Upper Order

The architectural style was influenced by Hellenistic Alexandria, the greatest city in the Eastern Mediterranean at the time. The upper order has a tholos (rotunda) in the center with the goddess Isis. Above, is the nearly 3.5 m high Urn on a large capital on the very top.

On the right and left sides are carved the mythical female warriors, Amazons. Two Nikes (winged goddesses of victory) decorate the side bays. Eagles of Zeus, the king of the gods identified with the Nabataean god Dusharaat, perch at the corners of the pediments.


Lower Order

Six columns stand at the front of the facade. Between the outer columns, two figures on horseback represent Castor and Pollux, the Heavenly Twins who guided the souls of dead heroes to the Elysian Fields. The porch is flanked by two large side antechambers

Within the porch, the large interior chamber is exposed. Massive wooden doors once stood here, that would open up to the large interior chamber. This chamber is currently not open to visitors.


Did you know...

When Petra was first discovered in 1812 by Johannes L. Burckhardt, there was a stream running through the Siq and in front of the Treasury monument. This stream can be seen in many old paintings.





Burial Crypt

The basement below is also home to some tombs. Human remains of 11 individuals were found along with other materials such as pottery. It is believed that at least one of the remains belongs to one of the relatives of King Aretes IV. The basement is currently closed to visitors.


Tea at view point





Petra by night




Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday you can experience Petra after dark. ‘Petra by night’ is a light show that starts at 20:00 after the entrance has closed. You will need to purchase a separate ticket for this show as it is not included in the regular Petra visitor day pass. You sit on mats in front of the Treasury, served with tea and listen to live music.

The Siq and the front of the Treasury is filled with candles, creating a magical atmosphere of being transported back in time. It lasts around 1h 30mins, with lights colouring the front of the Treasury facade as the history of Petra is said aloud to the backdrop of music.


Final thoughts

The whole experience of walking through the Siq and seeing the Treasury for the first time is truly magical. If you arrive very early in the morning with no crowds, you get a sense that you have somehow been transported back in time. It is an impressive site and you can't help but be reminded of Indiana Jones if you are a fan. The soundtrack was definitely playing in my head while I was standing there 🤠

You will need to arrive first thing in the morning at Petra if you want to get photos of the treasury with few to no tourists around. The short climb up to the tea viewpoint is well worth the effort to get a face-on view of the treasury. You can access this viewpoiunt buy turning left in the main courtyard. There is also the more popular viewpoint, which you can also go to via al-khubtha trail.





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