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Petra
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The ancient city of Petra Petra Petra: Al-Dayr Petra: Roman gate Petra: the Khaznah Petra: the Siq Petra: the Khaznah Petra: tombs Petra Petra, Jordan: Qasr al-Bint
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The ancient city of Petra
The ancient city of Petra Al-Dayr (“the Monastery”) at Petra, Jordan.

Petra

ancient city, Jordan
Also known as: Baṭrā, Sela
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Petra, ancient city, center of an Arab kingdom in Hellenistic and Roman times, the ruins of which are in southwest Jordan. The city was built on a terrace, pierced from east to west by the Wadi Mūsā (the Valley of Moses)—one of the places where, according to tradition, the Israelite leader Moses struck a rock and water gushed forth. The valley is enclosed by sandstone cliffs veined with shades of red and purple varying to...

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