Petra | The Nabataeans

The Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab people from north Arabia, began to settle in the Petra area from the late 7th century BC. They have arrived slowly and integrated peacefully with the settled Edomites, who were, then, themselves migrating to a new homeland in southern Palestine.

They were no doubt attracted initially, as previous occupants had been, by the plentiful water supply and the natural defensive position of the land surrounded by mountains. By the late 4th century BC the Nabataeans firmly settled in the Petra area, though with their nomadic traditions it is unlikely that they began building until they had been settled for some time.

However, by the 2nd century BC, Petra has become the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, encompassing an area which today covers around 102 kilometers. For many years, it remained the only large Nabataean city, although in the late 1st century AD, Bosra (in present-day Syria) have developed as an alternative capital.

Petra Guide: Before the Nabataeans | Beidha | The Edomites | The Nabataeans | Farming | Caravan City | The Nabataean Language | Religion | Houses | Pottery | Prosperity and Decline | Christianity and After | Aaron's Tomb Petra |Tourist Information