Petra: The Ancient Lost City of Stone

Go to go.thoughtleaders.io/189582020... for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and non­fiction series, and for our listeners, enter the promo code GEOGRAPHICS when prompted during the sign­up process and your membership is completely free for the first 30 days.
→ Subscribe for new videos two times per week.
/ @geographicstravel
This video is #sponsored by Curiosity Stream.
Our sister channels:
Biographics - / @biographics
TopTenz - / @toptenznettop10
Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Morris M.
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to [e-mail]
Source/Further reading:
Nat Geo simple overview: www.nationalgeographic.com/hi...
Nat Geo in-depth: www.nationalgeographic.com/hi...
History overview: www.history.com/topics/ancien...
Britannica summary: www.britannica.com/place/Petr...
The Kingdom of Nabatea - in-depth: www.ancient.eu/Kingdom_of_Nab...
Archeology: www.archaeology.org/issues/36...
Burckhardt’s biography: www.britannica.com/biography/...
UNESCO listing: whc.unesco.org/en/list/326/
New discovery in 2016: www.theguardian.com/world/201...
Modern explorations of Petra: www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
Map of Nabataean Kingdom: books.openedition.org/ifpo/4896
Somewhat old, but interesting article from Smithsonian: www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
Petra in the time of the Coronavirus: www.npr.org/2020/05/06/850157...

[@geographicstravel]

Go to go.thoughtleaders.io/1895820200814 for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and non­fiction series, and for our listeners, enter the promo code BIOGRAPHICS when prompted during the sign­up process and your membership is completely free for the first 30 days.

[@rebekah9713]

@UCyQj0Iv5wVRYu__BnBLZ9VA Muhammad was born in Mecca.

[@wardahwordah3737]

Quran says in one of its verses "The Companions of the Rocky Tract also rejected the messengers: ((The Destruction of the Dwellers of Al-Hijr, Who are the People called Thamud )) And verily, the Dwellers of Al-Hijr denied the Messengers. And We gave them Our signs, but they were averse to them. The Dwellers of the Al Hijr were the people of Thamud who rejected their Prophet, Salih. Whoever denies even one Messenger, then he has disbelieved in all of the Messengers, thus they are described as rejecting "the Messengers.'' Allah tells us that he (Salih) brought them signs to prove that what he was telling them was true, such as the she-camel which Allah created for them out of a solid rock in response to the supplication of Salih. This she-camel was grazing on their lands, and the people and the camel took water on alternate days that were well-known. When they rebelled and killed it, he said to them,"Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise which will not be belied.'' And as for Thamud, We showed them and made the path of truth clear but they preferred blindness to guidance، Out of the mountains did they hew (their) edifices, (feeling themselves) secure. And they used to hew out dwellings from the mountains, (feeling) secure. meaning, they were without fear and they had no real need for those houses; it was merely a form of extravagance and work without a purpose. This could be seen from their work in the houses in the Al-Hijr through which the Messenger of Allah passed on his way to Tabuk. "..........😊😊😊😊

[@jennyanydots2389]

I don't trust your promo code's anymore. The last one gave me herpes.

[@kremesauce]

Oooo

[@jennyanydots2389]

Be whole and Ve 'gina

[@daithimcnally8212]

Pretty good considering it gives +2 food, gold and +1 production to all adjacent desert tiles

[@mancavegamingandgardening9901]

Online Match Ragequitter. Whomever builds it first, at least 2 other players will d/c next turn.

[@harryoates91]

Love it 😂

[@jefferyhyatt]

Absolute necessity when surrounded by all desert 3 tiles out.

[@MannnisEi]

To all desert tiles within the city*

[@adsr3870]

Aah, a man of culture, I see?

[@SkinnerNoah]

Imagine being a traveling merchant about to die of thirst, and just as you reach the top of a hill, you see a valley full of trees, people, houses, and clean water. It must have seemed like the gods themselves had intervened

[@miliba]

kinda reminds me of that scene from mad max where the guy stumbles upon the gorge

[@nosuchthing8]

Sure, but they all knew about it.

[@Theodisc]

Did they die of *the* thirst first before finally making it over said hill, or did this, notwithstanding it being a mirage due to their condition, possibly seeing all of this before their inevitable total desiccation folding them up into a husk (in five seconds), become for them a chimaera? ...?

[@nonaeubinis7891]

Garden of Eden

[@markmitchell450]

It was a well known trading point on a well used trade route

[@jordanianchristian8387]

I’m Jordanian and went there last summer: let me tell you it was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited

[@Kari.F.]

I believe you! It has always been one of the most fascinating places created by man anywhere on earth to me.

[@imafuturecorpse2443]

The journey into Petra is the best pictures and descriptions don’t do it justice

[@dawnpalmby5100]

I'm jealous!!!!! I'd love to go to Petra!

[@imafuturecorpse2443]

Nell Raven I had to go for work (yah my life is super difficult sometimes) but if you do your research you could have quite the trip from the states for about $3000 round trip. And I’m sure it’ll be cheaper pretty much everywhere else...unless you’re an Aussie but if that’s the case you might not enjoy it since everything would feel upside down to you.

[@ayindestevens6152]

I wanna see it in real life!

[@dunther]

I spent two days in Petra climbing and crawling and gawking and all I could think was that I would need a month just to fully explore the tiny amount of the city that's visible. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I get choked up every time I watch my videos from the trip- and I've watched them a lot during the pandemic. If you are watching this then you are the kind of person who will feel the same. Make the effort to go. Give yourself plenty of time in Petra and the area around Wadi Musa. Get to know the B'doul tribe. Buy their overpriced kaffiyehs and let them show you how to wear them. You won't be sorry. Jordan is beautiful and very welcoming to visitors.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Yep A couple of days is not enough to properly experience this magical place. Hike to all the surrounding high points, look into all the carved tomb chambers to marvel at the spectacularly coloured stone, check out the excavated theatre and religious buildings, visit a Bedouin camp with the goat wool tents, trace the ancient water channels, and don't miss the external sites and Neolithic remains. Then go home knowing that you've seen 1 of the sights of the world!

[@dunther]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 I spent five more days in Petra last summer, hiking with my son. I saw so much more than on the first trip. I was happily exhausted every night. And still I have only scratched the surface. I stand by my original comment that I would need a month. And yes, I do intend another return trip. :)

[@sofa_king_kool]

As a carpenter, as well as an amateur stone-carver, the depth of knowledge these craftsmen had to have in order to carve such structures from living rock is astounding. Misread the grain of the stone and knap off too much and the whole detail (if not dimensions) has to change.

[@YeetLord666]

@John Murphy Prove it to me then! If it's easily proven then why is it not the accepted view? Oh yeah because some shadowy cabal has been quietly hushing up thousands of scientists and scholars for thousands of years while simultaneously doing away with any and all proof... riiiiight. Besides, you did hear the part about the heavy seasonal rains, and you know what torrential rains do to rock, right? I'm pretty sure that most carving marks will be covered up in 2000 years worth of seasonal rain storms. But hey, if believing dumb shit makes you feel better...

[@YeetLord666]

@Daniel Quick I know how it was done... slowly and carefully

[@archstanton6102]

@John Murphy "They found it" so who made it originally? Any evidence for this at all or just 4chan conspiracy b.s.?

[@archstanton6102]

@John Murphy 2 questions: 1. So who carved them? 2. Where is the evidence? Saying you follow a Russian woman is not evidence

[@rudy103069]

ancient cnc stone carving tech.

[@andreipiv]

Great at trading. Hoard water. Interested in spice. Are there humongous sandworms?

[@avanconia]

Don't forget the repression of women.

[@MaciejBogdanStepien]

@Yazmeli Ayzol :) nice one.I wonder if they walked the sand dunes outside at errant pace.

[@Blaergh]

@@MaciejBogdanStepien "Walk without rhythm, and you won't attract the worm." - Fatboy Slim But yeah, once Simon mentioned Nabateans digging huge cisterns, I immediately thought of Fremen. Herbert *did* do his homework.

[@BlueBirdsProductions]

@@avanconia shut up

[@jimBobuu]

I was disappointed to learn that not one of the leaders was named Muad'dib. But I do hope there was a Chani lookalike.

[@TheLacedaemonian300]

Hi Simon, I love it when you do ancient sights like this. Would you consider doing a Geographics on Masada? It's a palace fortress built in the Judean Desert in 30 BC by King Herod, but in 70 AD was used by a group of 1000 zealots as a final stronghold against the Romans during the Roman - Jewish Wars. The Romans spent months creating a path to get up the mountain, only to find all the inhabitants dead once they arrived. What happened in the time between the Roman arrival at Masada till their assent to the fortress is an incredible story. I think you would do a great job telling the story!

[@dawnpalmby5100]

Great suggestion!

[@JessRodr]

TheLacedaemonian300 fascinating! I’d watch for sure 😃

[@jennyanydots2389]

Simon's Be Whole just dilated and leaked a little Be Whole juice if he read that.

[@TheLacedaemonian300]

@@jennyanydots2389 Lmao! I hope so, Jenny!

[@TheLacedaemonian300]

@@JessRodr Thanks, Jess!

[@domhuckle]

One thing is certain - ancient rock carving abilities still blow minds today

[@themrwoody1434]

I went there while I was deployed in Jordan and we had 4 hours to explore. I didn’t even see a 10th of the labyrinth of caves and structures. It’s incredible and I want to go back as soon as I can.

[@jamezkpal2361]

Thank you for serving your people. Good job getting some joy out of it.

[@onebullet2689]

It really amazes me how so long ago these ancient people managed to make sophisticated water sytems from rough resources and technology

[@merrittfallis6544]

I lived and worked in Amman for a couple of years, and when friends from Canada and the U.S. would come to visit, Petra was always at the top of the list of things to see. I was there several times, and it was always thrilling. Definitely put Petra on your 'bucket list'.

[@Matt-tx1tc]

DONT blame the Jordan government for kicking the Bedouin out. The only way the UN would give it the UNESCO status was if people were not living in it. Jordan had no choice if they wanted the international help to protect the site. They built a massive modern village in sight of the ruins for the Bedouin(for free) who get 24 access to the site and the exclusive rights to work on the site with tourists....

[@steamgadget]

I wondered about the people that made their home there. Thanks for shedding some light on that. 👍

[@spitzkopf2128]

Can someone confirm that

[@razorransom1795]

@@steamgadget Yup, the story and history of them and the site has some interesting background. Look up petra, the holy city of ancient muslims before it was moved to mecca.😳'

[@Ahmad_Safi]

@@spitzkopf2128 its true , and interestingly a woman form new Zealand fell in love with a bedouin man and married him in that time period, she lived with him in the caves before moving to the village and wrote a book about her life the book's name is " married to a bedouin "

[@razorransom1795]

@Alex Dicintio eh, its the issue of preserving the landscape and buildings vs the people's comfort and care, although I believe the adult councils in the native group, the elders, are partially at fault for the people's suffering, but their will be a time, that old knowledge on hoe to live and survive without the comforts of today will be useful everywhere and that stamina built up as well, due to things shifting here soon geologically, space, spiritually and time wise within the next year or two. 😔'

[@claymore4496]

This explained so much about the history of Petra that has been an enigma for me. Knowing how and why it came to be is very cool! Thanks so much!👍🏻

[@thomaszielke866]

The history nerd in me was extremely excited about this video.

[@Jen39x]

I remember as a little girl studying the pictures of National Geographic in fascination. I was fortunate enough to go in 2001 as part of an Israeli trip. I would love to go back and explore for several days.

[@Rexx01]

Are you old enough now to have a boyfriend 😉

[@erinpitt580]

if they will let you explore.... that's the sad part... off limits... although that didn't stop me from breaking off from the tour, sneaking into the caves of Iwo Jima, and after fighting off GIGANTIC cockroaches crawling up my pants, while low crawling through caverns and passageways no taller than a few inches from my touching the ground shoulders that opened up to wide open man made hallways with machine gun tri pods at the ends and ammo dumps full of brass and unexpended ammunition burried, was able to bring out some amazing momentous, and taking a picture out front of the volcano with 5 of my beasties that got filthy up to our necks with me in the pitch black caves. barely made it back to the beach for the return ride back to the ship.... carrying black sand in my Kodak film case I swiped into it as I was running for the boat without stopping lol, and a gun oil container fashioned for soldiers to strap to their Helmut while battling, that had a still wet oil brush inside....in my pocket in a zip lock baggy. lol.... still have it. exploration is so much better than a tour.... sneak away 😜 do it......

[@erinpitt580]

@@Rexx01 sorry mate 🤣😂 she's gonna give ME her number.....

[@samihaddadin1286]

We have Israeli groups coming all the time, you are welcome in Jordan, friend

[@JeffDeWitt]

Simon's comment about tourists missing the story of Petra is on point, and not just about Petra. Every place has a story, great historical sites more so than most. If you visit a place and don't learn anything about it's story you don't really appreciate what you've seen.

[@rachel_sj]

Geographics and Simon Whistler: Debunking Indiana Jones movies one video at a time

[@Reg101st]

This is what our Lizard 🦎 Overloads want you to think.

[@benmallett4070]

One of the things that I will always look back upon with such glee for my naval career, is the fact that through a deployment to the Middle East, we stopped off in Jordan. As soon as it was mentioned that we had the opportunity to visit this site, I leapt at it. A absolutely fascinating and stunning location, the historical and cultural significance shall always stay with me. Thank you HM Government XD

[@PObermanns]

This video is GREAT!!!! We went to Jordan several years ago, spending two full days at Petra. So, so amazing! Our first view of the Treasury as we emerged from the Six (the narrow rock passageway) was unforgettable. As was our donkey ride to the Monastery in the rugged hills. Definitely a "bucket-list" item. That said, I'd recommend the entire country. We went to Wadi Rum - where movies - like "The Martian" were filmed, to Aquaba, to the Dead Sea (I recommend the Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa), as well as Mount Nebo (where Moses is buried), and the ancient Roman cities in the north. Amman is also great.

[@combatdriver-eh3ej]

Note: Before you visit BUY SOME WATER!!! I bought 4 2 Liter bottles. I went from the Treasury to the Monastery (7 mi) and was bone dry.

[@razorransom1795]

That is why its best to take a tip from the local garb.

[@laxxboy20]

"Petra is a brilliant display of man's artistry in turning barren rock into majestic wonder." -Edward Dawson

[@camandthecrew5567]

*civ music intensifies*

[@laxxboy20]

@@camandthecrew5567 *Sean Bean voice-over intensifies*

[@dalasher4214]

I lived in Jordan and visited Petra a couple of times. It truly is an amazing and astonishing place. Very worth the visit if you ever visit the middle east. Jordanians are the most incredibly warm and hospitable people and I loved it! Thanks Simon for this interesting Geographic.

[@Willisthatgoproyguy]

I was fortunate enough to visit Petra. It was beautiful and worth the trip.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I love your bringing together of pre-history/history, geology and geography and archaeology. What great content, it’s my favorite sort of thing to watch. Great production and presentation quality, too. What did I watch all day before I discovered your channel? Can’t remember, so it couldn’t have been that great.

[@rastusbojangles]

Petra has always fascinated me. I first saw a wonderful photo of it my father had. He was in Jordan conducting military training exercise and had just enough time to see this. Snapped a photo that will forever be in my mind. I hope to see this place in person one day and recreate my fathers photo from the early 90s. wonderful video as usual.

[@AndiRAin1]

Visited last November, it was amazing. The “best view on earth” while hiking the Monastery trail is awe inspiring.

[@--enyo--]

I’d never even heard of it. I love it when you cover places/events/people I hadn’t heard of before. Thanks again for your work.

[@HarrietThugman]

I really appreciate this video Simon, it made me really emotional. Thank you sir!

[@sputumtube]

It's strange to think that over 8,000 years later in the year 10,191 the Fremen would employ similar techniques regarding the storage of water on the planet Arrakis.

[@mattbarneveld815]

3 days in Petra a few years back, just stunning, incredible history! Jordan has a lot more to offer also and one of the highlights are its people. One of the most welcoming countries I have ever visited.

[@brycesdad27]

LOVED THAT ONE! I think that was my favorite video you have ever done! Thank you

[@tomislavkuna2265]

Great job with this one Simon!

[@florisk.ios.6416]

I’m dutch and i went there last year, it was awesome and i would love to go again

[@salladz3863]

It would be really cool to see the lower layers of the city. I’ve seen photos of stairways but never any footage

[@Beryllahawk]

Came to watch this not long after enjoying a little "virtual tour" of Petra, which in turn I was watching because of some interesting parallels between the historical city and a fantastical "lost city of the desert" in one of my favorite series of novels. The real thing is even more fascinating than the implied "vault" of the Indiana Jones flick, and more mysterious than the city in the fantasy novels too. VERY good video thank you!

[@Stogdad17]

Literally wanted to know about this one just the other day! Thank you, Simon!

[@MorganLoughton]

I’d love to see something about Ashdown Forest, Winnie the Pooh’s home land, especially the secret tunnels under the kings standing area, all its interesting residents throughout history and its Roman roads. Love the videos, can’t stop learning

[@KuriusOranj]

Winnie the Pooh? I was of the understanding that Pooh was based on a bear cub from Canada. What's the real story?

[@danc8278]

You can visit the underground complex it's owned by Sussex police and there are occasional tours

[@MorganLoughton]

Undercover Hat that is Paddington bear, I walk over Pooh Bridge almost daily on my dog walk.

[@MorganLoughton]

Steve Kitsch ah brilliant to know, I shall look into that. Thank you!

[@Jimfowler82]

I live about 40 mins from here it’s a lovely area of Sussex . Got to spend a lot of my childhood here.

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

So in a way the people of Petra was the real life equivalent of Fremen.. HOW COOL IS THAT!

[@leetimberman8860]

Water 💦 of life.

[@semi-useful5178]

Fremen Dwarfs

[@patrickthoma5320]

They even hide water in giant cisterns in the desert with special signs known only to them!!!

[@timgarrison8473]

Nicely done Simon.

[@dawnpalmby5100]

Absolutely great video, its nice to finally hear about the people of this great city, I look forward to more discoveries from this place (almost) lost in time

[@barbarahouse4659]

I visited Petra in late January 2020, and got to experience one of their rainstorms. At the beginning of our trek down to the Treasury, it seemed to be only sprinkling. By the time we reached the treasury, the water was ankle deep and very cold. It had become too dangerous for the horse carts to transport the tourists back to the entrance of the ravine. It was a cold, miserable slog back to the top, which seemed to take forever but is only a mile or two. This was to be the highlight (in my opinion) of my trip to Egypt and Jordan, and it was so cold and wet that all I have are a few blurry pictures of a brown wall and some pillars. Did you know that the treasury is fenced off to the public? Nope, neither did I. Unfortunately, a disappointing experience. Perhaps someday I'll make it back, but definitely not in January!

[@thecellulontriptometer4166]

I've been to Petra a number of times. I've been down the main trail out to the "Monastery", as well as up the stairway paths on either side of the main canyon. What I don't think many people who visit Petra realize is just how extensive the ruins are. It is not just the Treasury, mid valley temple complex, tomb row out to the monastery. If one takes the time to explore, stairways wind through the whole area to enormous ruined buildings on top of the bluffs, and carved out buildings on the other side of the ridges. Every time I've gone, I've found new ruins I had not seen in previous visits. The main feedback I would give to your presentation however is that much of the history you cite is conjecture at best. It is, for example, not at all clear what the buildings carved into the rock were used for. Were they tombs? Certainly in later times they seem to have been used that way, but there is no record stating that fact definitively. Finally, there is some mystery in how they were able to carve out the structures particularly inside with such exact precision. Inside the carved rooms are so precisely squared off that it looks like they were laser cut. There are still many mysteries about this place, and I would not state the history as you gave it as ground truth fact. It is merely the best guess so far.

[@edylcnostrebor9722]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us all together

[@sameerimamrajput]

Really like the channel! Highly informative

[@heavenst.murgatroyd3128]

I was here in the 90's. It's amazing I've been so.blessed to see the World. Thank you, U.S. Army!

[@frankmoore3433]

Petra: “Match me such marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time” (John William Burgon)

[@mcla9212]

Such an interesting place. Thanks for the great content! Learning such cool things about so many obscure places

[@evergreenrose427]

Simon's prose has become poetry. I watch these videos almost as much for his language as for all the amazing information. Thanks for emphasizing the wonder and shared humanity in our history!

[@SilentSaturn]

Can you do one on the Hill of Tara in Ireland please? There’s so much history about the seat of the high kings of Ireland

[@kurtpryor6334]

This reminds me a lit of Mesa Verde, with the buildings built on the cliffside, an architectural style I find fascinating. Mesa Verde would be a fun place to cover with quite a bit of unanswered questions.

[@razorransom1795]

Note what he said in this video the connection between Petra and Herod's family. Probably did have a influence on him as a kid to build the other.

[@wendychavez5348]

Are you from the southwest of the U.S.? I live in Albuquerque, NM and have a huge interest in Mesa Verde, Bandalier, and the Anasazi.

[@razorransom1795]

@@wendychavez5348 u-u' your in Valles Caldera blast range.

[@ocjok3r]

A bit off topic, but I thought Kim Wexler did a fantastic job with the Mesa Verde account

[@rodneymounsey4168]

That was sensational, fantastically told, thank you!

[@Nyctophora]

That was a really good one, thank you!

[@ryantennyson7562]

One of those magical places on earth.

[@jefflebowski918]

Petra has always fascinated me since I saw that Indiana Jones movie. Fun fact: many historians think Mohammed was born in(or near) Petra.

[@brrebrresen1367]

not as strange as all the earlier mosque's all point towards Petra (and not Jerusalem at all, not a single one does) and it was after the Muslim civil wars that mosque's started to point towards what is today Mekka. and while the Muslims wrote down everything there is a whole year that is missing from the history. that year is around the same time the last citizens of Petra, then known as Bekka disappeared and the earliest buildings in Mekka was constructed.

[@robertgillman1205]

As Børre says, the evidence of the far Eastern mosques is very clear that Petra was their focus not Mecca. Is this a topic of conversation in Muslim circles?

[@razorransom1795]

@@brrebrresen1367 yup, seen some cool history vids on that and how it pertains to petra, quite fastinating.

[@razorransom1795]

@@robertgillman1205 from what ive heard, its full taboo on both sunni and shite sites to speak of that history due to possibly loosing the dome of the rock area then, expecially if you know the true covered up history of the dome being once the church of the footprints of Jesus from Pontious's judging place, which ironically enough were thrown in the jordan near where the ark of the covenant rested, possibly and a musilm disciple second in command power takeover and used the church to covert christians to muslism using a counter to christian belief circle and mecca.

[@oneman80840]

Robert Gillman It was Jerusalem before Muslims change direction Towards Mecca

[@DrNothing23]

NICE~ Thanks, Simon. I requested this one recently. Glad to see it must have been a popular one. ;)

[@warrentreadwelljr.treadwel2694]

You have done some great story telling over the last few years. But Petra is one of your best yet. Thank you, my only problem are the earthquakes and the effects on water supply. The post 300AD earthquake was its worst from what I read but didnt Petra have problems with earthquakes before 300 that damaged their access to water? There are so many interesting things in Petra pre 300 AD that I hope you have time to visit its history again. Thank you very much once again for this episode. Thinking hard about it, this video is rivaled probably only with your coverage of the last days of the Romanovs. You mix a lot of dry British humor into your story telling. As an American I absolutely rejoice in it. If anyone bothers reading the comments, I encourage you to hit the Like button and subscribe. This channel is definitely worth it.

[@santigimelli4208]

"ah-ah-ah to hell with this" oh Simon...

[@TreeLBollingTreeMan]

Just a touch of "BLAZE" hey?

[@AvoidTheCadaver]

@@TreeLBollingTreeMan ALLEGENDLY

[@apaijmans]

Most tourist that go to Petra only see a small part of it. You can walk that gorge for miles and miles to find more houses and buildings carved from the rock.

[@literallyanangrymoose7717]

No trouble for it?

[@mariekatherine5238]

Albert Paijmans Is that permitted to foreign tourists?

[@damonnelson2835]

Absolutely, you can ride horseback as well

[@apaijmans]

@@mariekatherine5238 Yes you can just go there as a tourist and walk around, although I would advise you to wear walking shoes and take some water and lunch for the trek.

[@townsendadrianarmani]

He ALWAYS makes History SO exciting ! It's like hearing folktales; eyes full of enthusiasm and bated excitement!

[@lauragraham1122]

I visited Petra in the height of summer in 1999 for 3 days during a 1 month trip of Israel and Sinai.. It was empty of tourists, thankfully. I have never felt so excited as I did my first day walking along al-Siq and seeing the 'Treasury' for the first time between the high rocks. I even climbed all the way to the top of ad-Deir and have a photo sitting on the very top of it, just like the cover of a National Geographic which came out around that time. To this day I am so grateful to have visited this wondrous and magical place. I'm still blown away by it. Thank you for filling in so many more details I didn't know about it's history.

[@davidcooke8005]

I can't decide which is more posh, Simon's accent, or his beard.

[@davidringle7]

Lol Simon's not posh hes a hipster 😂

[@davidcooke8005]

@@davidringle7 That's my point. I find his affected accent cloying. His beard is legit epic though.

[@jennyanydots2389]

Simon takes his BBC thick and heated right in the be whole on the regular which makes him not very posh at all. Though, for 25 quid you can probably get him to do anything whether it involves any be whole not.

[@wonkothesane8691]

It's a symbiotic relationship, the beard, the accent (always perfectly metered, of course) and the flawlessly shaved pate. The man is 21st century manliness incarnate.

[@chiyohanson4332]

I'm sure his wife is very happy ☺️

[@PrezMcIntyre]

Kokura: The City that was Spared or Kokura: The Luckiest City in History.

[@jennyanydots2389]

Not as lucky as Al Queda and ISIS was to get Kobe Bryant to utilize the funds he acquired from his NBA career to fund all kinds of terroristic activities to possibly include 9/11.

[@One.DeSanctis.]

@@jennyanydots2389 Okay Sasha, let me help you with your English. "Al Queda and Isis were" is correct. Was is used for a single subject. Were for plural subjects. Da, kommeradski?

[@jennyanydots2389]

@@One.DeSanctis. And that's why we youtube folks... for the proper spelling and grammar.

[@LoPhatKao]

what does any of that have to do with Kokura?

[@PrezMcIntyre]

LoPhatKao Kokura was the original primary target for the second atomic bombing. Cloud cover over the city on the 9th of August, 1945 made it impossible for the bombardier aboard the Bockscar (the B-29 carrying the bomb piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney) to drop the bomb visually, and they were under orders not to drop by radar. Because of their low fuel situation, they proceeded to the secondary target, Nagasaki, where they were ironically forced the drop the bomb by radar anyway.

[@normanhumphrey9695]

Fantastic video, thank you so much for presenting this and mostly for resisting the urge to "glamorize" it and emphasizing the cultural and historical relevance this reign holds in the world. This is real,its not an action movie set or some Disney property and I truly hope that professional presentations such as yours keep it like that in the forefront of historical discovery.

[@jamezkpal2361]

I love this site. Only a couple of others I've seen have this kind of mystery and majesty.

[@B61Mod12]

8:00 dude I literally had an ad interrupt the ad which was interrupting the video....

[@TheVirtualObserver]

😂😂

[@alexburke1899]

Multiple embedded and regular ads make these videos hard to watch/listen to while doing something else. I wish it was one or the other not both kinds.

[@etherealceleste]

You can learn all you want about ancient sites by reading and watching videos, but that brief tourist visit is the only way to actually feel it.

[@Bubbaist]

Yes, I was in Lalibela, Ethiopia in January. The pictures can’t do it justice.

[@elenaderoet4926]

Unfortunately that going there and seeing it contributes to its decline.....

[@Logan_93]

@@elenaderoet4926 What? Without tourism fueling it right now, it would quite literally crumble

[@elenaderoet4926]

@@Logan_93 I'm sorry, but the damage that human beings do to structures even in controlled settings still contribute to the decline of historic areas. I stand by my point. Personally I would rather let the ravages of time take a place then the ravages of human beings being themselves. I say let historians archaeologists and documentary filmmakers have access so we can enjoy it without actually contributing so much to its decline.

[@garydixon332]

Excellent vidoe, full of outstanding information. I am a big fan of you content, Keeps it up!

[@JustDevon]

I was hoping for this one! This'll be good

[@Skydrag.V60]

I was supposed to go to Petra a few years ago but then my family experienced Jerusalem’s Iron Dome firsthand. I felt entirely safe but my family felt different (can’t say I blame them) so we got on the next plane back home :(

[@Master_Yoda1990]

You’re family should’ve checked out Israel’s conflict status to save money, cuz that trip had to have been expensive just to cut it short.

[@Skydrag.V60]

Yoda yup, we were on the tail end of it but it still sucked. We had several other ancient sites still left on our itinerary

[@L._.A-06]

I mean what are the chances that the rocket gets past the iron dome

[@Skydrag.V60]

Justadud right, it’s one of, if not the most advanced SAM system this world has and it has a 90% success rate. I’ll take those odds

[@rucker69]

Nabateans: "We shall make a language script, and women shall be equal to men." Arabs: "We'll take only the script!"

[@viracocha6093]

But weren’t the Nabateans an ancient subgroup of Arabs?

[@ronfroehlich4697]

The Nabateans don't exist anymore because they held women as equals. The same will eventually be said about Western Civilization

[@kus88]

If you think women are equal on the west you’re kidding yourself

[@JC-zj2is]

daniel _ how are they not? Lol

[@Guitarzoids]

This is the dumbest misogynist bigot conversation i have seen of youtube yet. Your moms must have been terrible people

[@sherilynlum-alarcon5007]

Thankyou Simon

[@darceewebb5792]

Thank you for this well informed and educational video, and the respect you array for culture and history I appreciate, you have a new subscriber, keep up the good work

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:35 - Chapter 1 - Rain kings 4:30 - Chapter 2 - The miracle city 7:20 - Mid roll ads 8:25 - Chapter 3 - Fighting for survival 11:15 - Chapter 4 - The art of raqmu 14:10 - Chapter 5 - Forever autumn 17:10 - Chapter 6 - The city returns

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

I spent 3 days visiting Petra back in 90's. They never talk about the ghosts and shadow people Djinn residing there in the shadows I had 2 rolls of film that I mostly took there and surrounding areas that had Shadow people and Djinn

[@coolbeast2000]

Would you mind uploading them on your channel? I’d love to see them!

[@nosuchthing8]

Lay off the shrooms

[@Renee_Crochet]

This was really interesting, thank you.

[@MontyMotorsport]

What a great episode, learnt so much. Inspiring 👍😀

[@saddleridge4364]

Much of the facade of the largest structures has deteriorated quite a bit, it's a shame, it's so astounding in it's architecture, the stone carvers were complete masters at their craft.

[@markmitchell450]

No shit there thousands of years old the stone is relatively soft it's a kind of sand stone hot days cool night's esp in the winter gradually erode the rocks throw in a few heavy rain storms and flash floods over the centuries all take there toll Even there's bullet holes and damage I think from the 2nd world war vandalised by soldiers

[@tss9886]

It would be amazing if as part of the rediscovery they could fix some of the water conservation system and return at least a small part of the city to the lush garden it once was...a true tribute to the genius of the original builders.

[@madalenadeairesmateus5636]

Hi! I love your videos and the way you play with the images, very funny! : ) congratulations to you all!

[@echrzastek]

Love ur videos love the pigeon reference !

[@kalt7990]

I sometimes think when I hear about the remains of ancient cities: "How many of our cities would be featured in such a way, in documentaries far into the future?"

[@aquadonkey.]

Sadly, most likely, none, just because of the material used, the metal will rust to nothing, wood will rot. Honestly the only thing that might stay behind are some bits of roads/highways. Side note my biology teacher had a joke that in time plastic figures of Ronald McDonald will be looked at like a god and the teletubbies will be looked at as proof of extraterrestrial life since the only thing that wont completely fade away will be the platics we made.

[@TheVirtualObserver]

AquaDonkey I think our highways would remain. Sure they’d fall into disrepair and be unsafe to use, but they’re truly colosal structures that span entire continents so evidence of them is bound to remain.

[@zeeshanfaiez2075]

Doomsday is close, there wont be long enough time for that.

[@katiegarrett822]

I fear our dumps will be our legacy

[@gummigamer4125]

Oh, hey, It's that good wonder in Civilazation.

[@spacepeanut8993]

Excellent video!

[@jamesengland7461]

Great tribute to this lost people!

[@daxlogsdon1685]

Why never photos of the inside of the buildings. Does the interior have the same height as the doors if yes what for. Doors still in place or added back?

[@nickburningham5143]

Very big inside. But as far as we know they are all tombs, not places to be inhabited.

[@daxlogsdon1685]

Nick Burningham, thank you for your response. If tombs why never a mention of bodies of photos of the interior of the tombs seems as if they are hiding Petras secrets.

[@nickburningham5143]

@@daxlogsdon1685 There's nothing inside, and some are very large internal spaces with high ceilings. All the tombs are believed to have been robbed.

[@daxlogsdon1685]

Nick Burningham , it seems obvious if tombs how where they secured and why the massive doors to invite tomb robbers. Also when cutting from rock monolith why spend all that time removing a massive doorway of rock only to attempt to build a door to secure it again does not make sense. Seems Petra secrets are yet to be revealed. I believe the some carved out spaces were tombs but came much later perhaps thousands of years later. Petra with all its riches being a hub of commerce for hundreds of years would need a massive security force. Giant doors or doors for giants you decide. I believe it sounds crazy but ancient writing say otherwise and structures build prior to 12,500years ago say otherwise something to ponder and consider. Thanks again for your response much appreciated I have always wondered what is beyond those massive door openings.

[@nickburningham5143]

@@daxlogsdon1685 Massive tombs requiring huge labour are not just in Petra. Old Nabatean examples are far to the south in the Arabian desert. Then there are the pyramids and various other examples. None from 12,500 year ago, of course.

[@kingdingaling781]

Just watched Indiana Jones The Last Crusade yesterday.

[@SRW_]

Dr jones! Dr jones! Hold on to your potatoe!

[@SRW_]

It belongs in a museum

[@SkyTrashActual]

He who drinks from the cup of Christ.

[@SRW_]

What happens at 11 o clock?!?!

[@KatGlos]

I'm so excited I will get to visit Petra this summer!

[@Najur.]

With this video, You took my heart 💗 out of my chest simon, and that you did!

[@GeoPerspective]

I'm glad you left Visual Politic channel. Their content is too boring now!

[@on_6933]

If had to go back in time I'd definitely choose to live there

[@alexpiggford2757]

This is the first time I've seen and heard Simon act like a real human who actually sounds interested in the subject and happy to spread this information. It's nice

[@wendychavez5348]

Are you a new viewer? Welcome to the family! I find Simon to be consistently interested, interesting, and happy to share knowledge.

[@prestin6798]

Excellent video, I’ve never heard of this place. Well done sir

[@Henchman1977]

The many neighbouring influences on Petra's architecture was probably as a result of the craftsmen/artists who carved being from those cultures.

[@ChadSimplicio]

"You...have chosen wisely."

[@cwn41]

I can’t even see Petra photos and not immediately think of that 😂

[@Detroiter18]

This video made me add a Giza Pyramids -Petra trip to my bucket list.

[@evernalways]

I have been here and it was amazing!! I didn't have enough time to explore the vastness of it as it is stretches out very far. To get to it, takes a good 45 min walk, as you can only access it through the Siq, which is the river cut valley and that is breathtaking in and of itself. One day I will get back there!!

[@chuckw1113]

There is a smaller version of Petra in Afghanistan. I’ve been there.

[@dizzyhart3892]

Where ?!!

[@chuckw1113]

@@dizzyhart3892 it’s called Takht-i Rustam. It is southeast of Samangan. There is a rock dome with a small square building on it. About two kilometers to the north is a temple, and a living complex carved into a rock face. It’s not as elaborate or as polished as Petra, but it’s still impressive.

[@dizzyhart3892]

Chuck W Still sounds cool !

[@chuckw1113]

@@dizzyhart3892 it was really neat. I went there with a senior Afghan National Army general about fifteen years ago, and he gave an extended history lesson there and at the Iron Emir’s palace while heading back to Kabul! What a trip!!!

[@ScubaDude68]

These incessant KZbin ads ruin an otherwise fantastic presentation. Five minutes into the video and I’ve been bombarded three times with an ad mid-sentence.

[@cj4631]

Went last October, need at least two days to fully explore and learn. If you plan to go, make sure you get up and visit for sunrise then 100% climb to the Monastery. IMO better than the Treasury! Finally make sure you climb up the sides to the carved tombs...one of which has an acoustic that would rival the best concert halls! Enjoy, look after and most importantly learn! Simon should do another one on Jerash...UNBELIEVABLE Roman city in Jordan

[@Megan-xm5nv]

Wow I really learned so much from this episode!!! Petra has been on my list of places to travel, but I never really thought about the history (dumb of me, I know). Thanks for the informative in incredibly interesting history lesson.