Al-Madbah, The High Place of Sacrifice
A nice walk takes you to the High Place of Sacrifice from where there are good views over Petra.
The summit of The High Place of Sacrifice is in itself a little underwhelming. However it is the views and the circular return walk that makes it very worthwhile.
Nearby are a pair of obelisks, created by carving away the rock. A short way on from the High Place of Sacrifice is a point from which there are superb views over Petra.
View over the Street of Facades
Ann at the High Place of Sacrifice overlook
The Lion Fountain
The most enjoyable walk we did was the return walk from the High Place of Sacrifice via Wadi Farasa ending up at the Great Temple. This walk takes you by several monuments which only a few other tourists see.
This monument had a water channel going down into the head of a lion, from which it spouted cool water. Unfortunately the head of the lion has long since perished.
The Garden Tomb. A very tranquil setting for a tomb.
The Soldier’s Tomb. This tomb is assumed to be of an unknown Roman soldier. Health & Safety back home would have thrown a seizure here. Tourists from time to time have lent over too far & plummeted to their deaths.
The Triclinium of The Soldier’s Tomb. However it is not the Tomb itself but the Triclinium (the drinking hall) opposite which is of much more interest. It is the only splendidly carved interior in Petra. You can also see in this photo the remains of the “benches” along which the celebrants (mourners?) would recline while drinking all their wine.
The Renaissance Tomb. The naming of this Tomb is only about 1,500 years out. Maybe they ran out of catchy names for tombs? I believe that the walls were originally plastered, hiding the fantastic natural patterning of the rock surfaces. What a shame.
Me – posing by some plain Tombs
Other Tombs we passed on the walk back from the High Place of Sacrifice.
