Who are Nabataeans

Originally nomads, the Nabataeans began to settle in this area around the 6th century BC, but only in the late Hellenistic and Roman times did their capital achieve the importance to which its monuments still bear witness. It is believed that the actual city has been built between the years of 9 BC and 40 AD and that it was even visited by the famous Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Its glory was somewhat overshone at the end of the 2nd century AD when the center of the Arab trade was practically moved to Palmyra. (You can read more on the blog about Palmyra, Syria.) There are no Nabataeans nowadays and we don’t really know what happened to them. Still, they have left such marvelous buildings and tombs dug into mountains’ stone, that one has to sense the greatness of their city.

Petra was almost impregnable, although it was later under the rule of foreigners. There were Egyptians here, Romans, Crusaders, and Ottomans. The city was the safe haven for caravans coming from the south of Arabia, packed with spices and silk from India and Africa, and frankincense which was especially interesting. The tree of frankincense produced the incense which was widely used during the rituals of god offerings, but it was also considered a sort of medicine.

So, Nabataeans have done pretty well regarding trade and customs, and they were the important link between the East and the West, balancing among the great powers such as Egypt and Persia.