Petra - Jordan - page 339

The Siq
Offline map
The 1.2km siq, or canyon, with its narrow, vertical walls, is undeniably one of the major
highlights of Petra. The walk through this magical corridor, as it snakes its way towards
the hidden city, is one full of anticipation for the wonders ahead and many people charge
through it, impatient to get to Petra. That's a pity because the Siq is worth enjoying for its
own sake and the longer you take to travel through it, the more you can savour the final
moment of arrival.
The Siq starts at an obvious bridge, beside a modern dam. The dam was built in 1963,
on top of a Nabataean dam dated AD 50, to stop floodwater from Wadi Musa flowing
through the Siq. To the right, Wadi Muthlim heads invitingly through a Nabataean tunnel
- the start (or finish) of an exciting hike ( Click here ) .
The entrance to the Siq was once marked by a Nabataean monumental arch. It survived
until the end of the 19th century, and some remains can be seen at twin niches on either
side of the entrance.
Technically, the Siq, with its 200m high walls, is not a canyon (a gorge carved out by
water), but a single block that has been rent apart by tectonic forces. At various points you
can see where the grain of the rock on one side matches the other - it's easiest to spot
when the Siq narrows to 2m wide.
The original channels cut into the walls to bring water into Petra are visible, and in
some places the 2000-year-old terracotta pipes are still in place. A section of Roman pav-
ing was revealed after excavations in 1997 removed 2m of soil accumulation.
At one point the Siq opens out to reveal a square tomb next to a lone fig tree. A little
further on, look for a weathered carving of a camel and caravan man on the left wall. The
water channel passes behind the carving. Hereafter, the walls almost appear to meet over-
head, shutting out the sound and light and helping to build the anticipation of a first
glimpse of the Treasury. It's a sublime introduction to the ancient city.
Some historians speculate that the primary function of the Siq was akin to the ancient
Graeco-Roman Sacred Way. Some of the most important rituals of Petra's spiritual life
began as a procession through the narrow canyon, and it also represented the end point for
Nabataean pilgrims. Many of the wall niches that are still visible today along the Siq's
walls were designed to hold figures or representations (called baetyls ) of the main
Nabataean god, Dushara. These small sacred sites served as touchstones of the sacred for
pilgrims and priests, offering them a link to the more ornate temples, tombs and sanctuar-
ies in the city's heart, reminding them that they were leaving the outside world, and on the
threshold of what was for many a holy city.

CANYON