Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
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Tucked into a confined space, the Treasury (known locally as Al-Khazneh;
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)
is
protected from the ravages of the elements, and it is here that most visitors fall in love
with Petra. The Hellenistic facade is an astonishing piece of craftsmanship of a scale and
grandeur guaranteed to take your breath away.
As you pause to take in the view, the individual details become more apparent. Atop the
six columns at ground level are floral capitals, while the triangular pediment depicts a gor-
gon's head. The carved figures at ground level are thought to be the sons of Zeus, while
the figures on the top tier, in the sunken niches, depict two winged Victories and four fig-
ures of unknown origin. The central figure above the entrance pediment is the source of
much speculation; most scholars believe it to be an assimilation of the Egyptian goddess
Isis and the Nabataean goddess Al-'Uzza, while others suggest Tyche, the Roman goddess
of fortune. Two eroded eagles stand sentry at the very top. Regularly spaced niches on
either side of the facade are suggestive of scaffolding.
Although carved out of iron-laden sandstone to serve as a tomb for the Nabataean King
Aretas III (c 100 BC-AD 200), the Treasury derives its name from the story that an Egyp-
tian pharaoh hid his treasure here (in the urn in the middle of the second level) while pur-
suing the Israelites. Some locals clearly believed the tale because the 3.5m-high urn is
pockmarked by rifle shots, the results of vain attempts to break open the secret.
As with all the rock-hewn monuments in Petra, it's the facade that captivates; the interi-
or is just an unadorned square hall with a smaller room at the back. The Treasury, which is
43m high and about 30m wide, is at its most photogenic in full sunlight between about
9am and 11am.
From the Treasury, the Siq veers to the right; diagonally opposite is a
Sacred Hall
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,
which may have had ritual connections with the Treasury.
TOMB
One of the great experiences of Petra is watching the beaming smiles on the faces of
those emerging from the Siq. This can be easily enjoyed from the steps of the Treasury
(though the smiles quickly change to grimaces if you're sitting in someone's picture) or
better still from up high.
