Al-Khazneh, The Treasury
The most elaborately carved of the monuments and one of the best preserved due to its relatively sheltered position.
It is about 2,000 years old.
The decorative style of the sculptures includes elements of ancient Egyptian, Greek as well as Nabatean influences. They weren’t fussy.
In the mornings this area was heaving with tourists. However if you come back in the late afternoon, you have a decent chance of getting a photos without the crowds in the way.
The circular Tholos. The origin of the name given to this mortuary monument, “The Treasury” I think is amusing. Over time the locals believed that pirates (or another version has Egyptian Pharaohs) hid fabulous treasure in the carved urn at the top. It is riddled with rifle shots as they hoped that a lucky shot would release the treasure for them.
Petra by Candlelight (Photo – Kevin Mullarkey). On some evenings there is a musical & story-telling event in front of the Treasury. Corny. The area is lit by only these candles. At the end the master of ceremonies suggested that if people wanted a better photo of the facade then it could be lit up if everyone took a flash photo at exactly the same time. Was it beyond their capabilities to install a lighting system?
