City of Petra in Jordan
The story of the city of Petra is veiled in mystery. It starts with a group of Arabian nomads called the Nabataeans, who led fruitful lives as desert traders. Scant clues exist to reveal exactly where these migrants originated, but it is clear that they had acquired control of the ancient incense and spice trade throughout the Arabian Peninsula by the first century BC.
What remains unclear is why these successful, nomadic merchants settled down, shifting to an urban lifestyle. As city dwellers, the Nabataeans took pride in their prosperity. Inscriptions carved in stone list religious offerings of silver and gold, and monumental rock-cut tombs at Petra and the city of Hegra reveal that the Nabataeans had great wealth and power. Petra was their crown jewel, the thriving capital of Nabataea.
