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Petra: Secrets of the ancient city revealed

Sharjah - Visitors will explore the relationship and connections that linked Petra as a centre of trade with other settlements in the Arabian Peninsula, including Sharjah's most significant archaeological site, Mleiha.

Visitors to Sharjah Archaeology Museum will get a treat to a collection of sculptures, statues and architectural remnants, originating from the ancient city of Petra.
Petra, Desert Wonder exhibition, which opened earlier this week and will run until March 16, 2017, offers a unique insight into artistic and architectural heritage of the civilisation of the Arab Nabataeans and their 'Rose City'.
Visitors will explore the relationship and connections that linked Petra as a centre of trade with other settlements in the Arabian Peninsula, including Sharjah's most significant archaeological site, Mleiha.
A total of 54 rare archaeological finds, including sculptures, statues, architectural remnants and crafts, showcases Nabataean beliefs and achievements in the fields of industry, engineering and art.
Hidden among steep red rocks of sandstone in the southern part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the artefacts date back 300BC to 106AD, when Petra was the capital of a wealthy and powerful kingdom, as well as a political and economic metropolis.
Half-built, half-carved into reddish pink rock gave Petra its second name, Rose City. Surrounded by mountains, the Petra archaeological park was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1985 and has been popularised in films such as the 1989 Hollywood blockbuster Indiana Jones.
Thanks to its strategic location, the Petra dominated trade links affiliated with the passage of caravans transporting incense, frankincense and spices.
The exhibition, a collaboration between the Sharjah Museums Department and the Department of Antiquities in Jordan, is considered integral in promoting cross-cultural exchange between Arab societies.
"From today, visitors will gain an understanding into one of the most important civilisations in the region and the groundbreaking artistic and architectural heritage integral to their capital," said Manal Ataya, Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Department.
Certain pieces reveal the sophistication of Petra's Great Temple, including its complex underground plumbing system that ensured a supply of drinking water even in time of drought.
Others reveal the advanced technology of the time, such as bronze jug handle decorated with the figure of Medusa that historians believe was produced in Petra's own bronze-making workshop.
Visitors will also gain an insight into the beliefs of the Nabataean people, such as the Gods they worshiped and the way in which building entrances were commonly decorated with the image of Medusa to ward off evil.
With such glimpses of history, wonder, myth and mystery, the possibility of people walking out enlightened with rich history is likely to be high!
Photos by M.Sajjad
reporters@khaleejtimes.com