Mysterious place of ancient history, the long forgotten capital of once powerful nation of Nabataeans, Petra lies on the trade route that controlled all the merchant caravans carrying goods of extraordinary values between Damascus and Arabia, the great spice, silk and slave caravans were passing through here. Nabataeans' success in commerce was probably the reason why they managed to master iron production, hydraulic engineering, copper refining, stone carving and sculpture and other skills in a very short time.

The city was built in the 3rd century BC and was abandoned in 555 AD due to a massive earthquake.