Although it was founded around the 8th century BC by the Edomites and later taken over by the Nabateans, its most outstanding buildings date from the 1st century AD. Being the capital of the Nabataean kingdom around the 4th century BC, whose original name was Raqmu, the city prospered thanks to its strategic location on the Silk Road, being a stop for caravans that transported incense, spices, silk, ivory, pearls and other luxury goods between Egypt, Syria, Arabia, Africa, India and the southern Mediterranean. That flow of goods and people influenced both its wealth and its architectural style.

It was part of the Roman Empire, of which innumerable buildings stand out, being the capital of the Roman province of Arabia Petrea, maintaining its importance and splendor until the Roman maritime routes would displace the commercial routes of the city. Little by little, century by century, Petra would lose importance and would gradually be abandoned, leaving its architectural splendor at the mercy of time. Its last relevant constructions date from the Byzantine era, where Christian churches were built, and from the Crusaders, who would leave some fortifications during their confrontations with the Arabs. In the Middle Ages, Petra was hardly a forgotten village.

Built largely on rock, Petra is wedged between steep, jagged rocks that form the Siq gorge. Throughout its route, the city developed on its sandstone rocks eroded by water. A complex channeling system also carved into the same rock carried water to the entire city, thus allowing its prodigious development. Its architectural style evolved from very simple excavations in the rock to impressive Hellenistic-style temples where Roman influence is notable.

The great historical and architectural value of Petra has left buildings such as the Treasury (Al Khazneh) and the Monastery (Al Dir) with its rich ornamentation and columns, the Obelisk Tomb, the Roman Theatre, the Tombs of the Palace, the Temple of the Winged Lions, the Mausoleum of Sextius Florentinus, the Triclinium of the Lion, the Qasr al Bintla, the altar of sacrifices, a Byzantine church from the 5th century with rich mosaics or a castle from the period of the Crusaders. In addition, remains of houses spread over terraces at different levels dot its steep orography.

The city was discovered to the western world by a Swiss traveler named Jean Louis Burckhardt during the first decade of the 19th century. Its witness would attract attention and various isolated archaeological expeditions were organized throughout the 19th century, which would intensify in the 20th century involving the Jordanian government since the 1970s. Thus, more and more remains of the intriguing city were discovered, and in 1985 the site was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, becoming a focus of development for the country for being an important tourist place.

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