We Explored Forbidden Ancient Site

[@johnc2438]

Spent the summer of 1977 there on an archaeology project. Virtually NO tourists back then (a couple of small group tours ventured in -- special events for us digging and scraping away!). No entry requirements. If we wanted a cold cola, we had to walk back up the Siq to a government rest house; we did that only a couple of times. No tourist hotels anywhere in and around Petra. Wadi Musa police chief gave three of us a ride from the King's Highway into town and brought us to his house for tea and pastries, before getting us horses for the ride into Petra proper (I was traveling from with two women, one of whom was an instructor in Kuwait who spoke fluent Arabic). Regular visits from the Jordanian army. If you listened carefully, you could hear Israeli jets training across the border. 03:00: I was a day late joining my project (flight was canceled from London to Amman); so our little party had to rent horses for the late afternoon trek to the first view of Petra, the spectacular Treasury. One of the best summers of my life. The friendly Bedul riding horses and some armed with old rifles -- and inviting us to their tents for evening meals and entertainment (first event was slaughtering a goat for the cooking pot). Cannot compare with the touristy scene you see today. Glad I was there almost a half-century ago when it was really real.

[@justinsmith4562]

Good thing about rock, is its still as real now as it was 50 years ago... and 8000 years ago.

[@lauraarcher1730]

Wow!

[@alisong2328]

That must have been when Bedouin families were still living there in caves. I read "I Married a Bedouin" written by a woman from New Zealand who married and lived in a cave in Petra. They were relocated later.

[@clarekelly6129]

Wow, thank you for sharing that story, really interesting and a definite added bonus to this tour video of Petra. 👍

[@kittymorgan9783]

I read that too!! In 1989 I was teaching English as a second language in Southern California and I had a student from Jordan who brought pictures of Petra to the class...that really fired up my desire to go there but I never made it. I did a lot of South America exploration in the early 1970s and am glad I did. No tourists! No amenities either...really had to rough it, in a way I would never do now, 😂😂😂@@alisong2328

[@monstremarguerite6121]

I can’t believe this content is free. Its the greatest gift to someone who loves to learn, I really could cry

[@radish6691]

Don’t cry, you won’t be able to see the video!

[@NoneOfyourbusiness-ob2yz]

You are absolutely right, what a great thing.

[@CalebMay-bf1ci]

Its called ad revenue idk if you are familiar with YT

[@johnnyblue4799]

It's not free... You're paying for it, albeit indirectly.

[@justinsmith4562]

What are you talking about?

[@suddenwall]

To walk those hand carved stairs, right where people ventured 2000 years ago is such an astonishing privilege. thanks for sharing!

[@ValRoyD]

People have been EVERYWHERE on this planet. Most everything didn’t just pop up last night.

[@JennyLywthgoe]

This channel is a gift to the history community with the amount of great free information it provides

[@frontenac5083]

*As the saying goes: when it's free, you're the product.* *Don't you understand how KZbin's economic model works?* *Get a basic clue!*

[@jel5034]

I went there in the mid 1990's on a charity walk. We walked from Amman to 'Little Petra' and then onto the Treasury, sleeping in Bedouin tents errected each night along the way. We didn't approach the conventional way but from where Dan did the early introduction of the video. From up high and to the side you can see the many cut out rooms where ancient civilizations lived in the actual mountainside. It's a breathtaking view and if you can get a guide to take you up there, i'd advise that highly. When we descended into the Treasury area itself, i was able to sit up around 10' on a rock (with the aid of a giant Australian tour guide called Jeremy) and marvel at this literal wonder. Being a tiler i have an eye for a straight line and this place is amazingly 'square' at every angle, it makes you wonder how they could get these lines so straight with just a plumb bomb. Back when we were there you could walk up those steps and i still have the photos somewhere of the smoke blackened walls inside. To stand and look out from it gave a vibe of importance and you could only wonder what scenes had actually happened inside of this place. I've travelled the World and seen some amazing places but this should be one of the 'Wonders of the World'. The night sky with no light polution is spectacular, stars the size of buttons with scenery fit for ancient Kings and Queens. Jordan was/is amazing, my favourite destination for everything a wandering mind could need. I hope one day i can go back.

[@MichaelLeBlanc-p4f]

Thank you. Had no idea Petra was so very large. This show has been an eye opener for me.

[@jamarmiller]

take 3 days is what I recommend. I spent two 8 hour days and wished I had a third

[@COYSfootball7751]

I went there when I was like 10 ... best memory ever .. supernatural

[@bubbles190]

I can see the ecstacy in his eyes. Man i love history.

[@MichaelLeBlanc-p4f]

Me too. Love time traveling privileges in an age when 'Machines' are not needed if you can read or have access to channels like this.

[@mrsundaymorning]

You should read the Quran then

[@MM-lg4ni]

@@mrsundaymorning ughhhhhhh no thanks, NEVER

[@scorpio85]

Me too. I worked in the history department at the University of Natal for many many years.

[@bruceclark1347]

When we went to Petra it was after dark. The way in was lit by dozens of candles in brown paper bags - incredibly atmospheric. Our arrival at The Treasury, also beautifully lit was amazing. Jordan is well worth a visit, several amazing places to experience.

[@yuvraj01]

I was there just last week!

[@laurelsayer7557]

Dan Snow is extraordinary, I never tire of watching his documentaries. And his carefully chosen fellow presenters are great too. We are so lucky that he offers some of his documentaries on History Hit You Tube too.

[@alisong2328]

I visited Petra 5 years ago. It is incredibly beautiful. Visiting Jordan was a wonderful experience. The people and places are unforgettable.

[@shaggycan]

When the Wadi was created Jordan wasn't a desert. The further you go back in time, the wetter North Africa and the Middle East were. It was once incredibly fertile, that is why humans stopped being hunter-gatherers and began practicing agriculture.

[@marianparoo1544]

I’ve heard many accounts and theories about it, including occupier after occupier leaving scorched earth.

[@tripsaplenty1227]

​@@marianparoo1544 I've heard it was built by aliens, doesn't mean it's true.

[@zombievac]

You’re assuming that humanity or civilization started in Africa or the Middle East, but we’re finding megaliths from way earlier all over the place now. Agriculture and civilization started way earlier than the era you’re even talking about, and existed in at least various spots all around the world already by 12000 years ago… or way longer

[@danielstuart2023]

Can I get an amen 🙏 up in here 🙏

[@zon6158]

⁠@@zombievacMesopotamia was in the Middle East

[@damianbengree8483]

When I was young, my dad told us a story of his trip to Petra as a young British Navey officer soon after the Second World War finished. Most interesting after a long hike in and out, they were picked up by an army truck, part way along the drive, they became snow bound for a few days, subsequently requiring a food drop from the british airforce. I know it was true as we have old photos of Petra and the navey men sheltering in the back of the truck.

[@nickdsnik]

....and well done to the camera man lugging all that gear up all of those steps.

[@nct948]

yes, I always think of him, lol!

[@xToddmcx]

The thing I remember about visiting Petra was I got to ride the black horse. Very important for a 10 year old.

[@shotgunbettygaming]

VERY cool to see parts and places in Petra that isn't The Treasury. Most people don't share that. I found it to be just as beautiful and fascinating as the most well known portions! Thanks Dan!

[@tramapolean]

Excellent tour! Fascinating to see that one building being SO much smaller, even though it is the postcard pic for Petra, but then the city just goes on and on. Now I understand why it really was such a big deal at the time! Thank you, Dan and the team!

[@BusstterNutt]

Thank you for all the hard work in making these excellent videos.

[@karynfolland4267]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching that. Ancient sites such as this fascinate me. Unfortunately due to limited mobility I’ll never get to see these places in person, but this is the next best thing. Thank you.

[@vincentblackshadow1581]

On my second day there I went through Wadi Muthlim which is a pretty incredible hike in itself and at the end of the Wadi turned left and found the stairs going up to the viewpoint over looking the treasury. I watched the Sun flow down the cliff face of the treasury slowly lighting it up as it rose higher. I was the only up there and looking down on all the people who were like tiny ants moving around.

[@FairyFrequency]

Petra is absolutely fascinating! Sending lots of love and peaceful vibes from the creeks and woodland of Missouri.

[@Siansonea]

I can't imagine going all the way there and turning around without seeing everything. What a waste. That monastery is incredible.

[@chryoung-db2iw]

They lucky at lest they don’t have eye deasise I may not be able to any more with my uveitis in less I can bring eye drops will never be able to visit anywhere abroad

[@popeofdope8721]

@@chryoung-db2iwevery country will let you bring eye drops

[@maylissbjerke9204]

I want to go there and explore every detail! I recomend ajanta caves and ellora caves in india. Crazy. Place.. i visited ellora 11 years ago and i went in everyday for a week to see it all..❤from norway

[@davidhamilton2093]

"We named the dog Indiana!" Site if one of the best film trilogy endings ever... no new Indiana Jones films count.

[@mogsyman]

I lived in Jordan and visited Petra a number of times and in those days you could literally walk anywhere you wanted to - inside the treasury was nothing more than a few steps. The engineering of that city was incredible, the perfection of the amphitheatre can be confirmed by the fact you can hear a whisper from the bottom, right at the top, it’s perfect. The size of Petra is amazing, the size of buildings built into the walls are colossal and to think they built this 4000 years ago without a JCB in sight!

[@dennyschillings8963]

Great job! Dan, you covered things that many Petra docs don't. We were there for three days (stayed at the Petra Guest House at the entrance to Petra). Thanks for mentioning the Monastery, which many miss, the view is spectacular. Also thanks for mentioning of the restaurant, which had excellent Fatteh and great tea.

[@kellypersich5021]

Petra has been on my must visit list for about 30 years.

[@TheDarthSoldier]

It really is an incredible place to visit. I got to visit in 2018

[@michelepineau9657]

I also visited in 2018. Didn't try to visit the Monetary though- it would have been too much for my bad knee.

[@williamrobinson7435]

On second viewing I'd definitely be happy with the 800 steps. Most astonishing place, one wonders, it only the 400 CE earthquake hadn't gone off, how much more of this amazing city would be there now. An astounding and magical place, a real Wonder Of The World. Nice one once again, Dan & team! 🌟👍

[@nigelhamilton815]

Dan is becoming a national treasure. Great content and video.

[@ziggystardust3060]

I visited Petra back in the 1970's, and it was a truly memorable trip. I can see why these amazing places are so protected now. Since the advent of the internet, archaeological sites like Petra have become infinitely more accessible. ❤

[@jamielandis4606]

I learned so much more about Petra than the usual documentaries. Five 👍🏼!

[@sresnic]

I remember when Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade came out, I assumed this was just a matte painting or a Hollywood set. Years later I was flipping through a book and there was a picture of the Treasury in Petra. I knew I had to see it in person. Fortunately I was able to visit in 1997. I hiked up as far as the Monastery. What an incredible place to visit.

[@disgruntledwookie369]

I explored Petra about 10 years ago. My favourite thing about the place is the lovely man at the very top of the cliffs behind the modern cafeteria who offered us free tea and was a pleasure to talk to.

[@stellamarina4123]

I was able to visit Petra over 2 days about 14 years ago. The day I climbed the 800 stairs it was raining so the steps were a bit slippery. Another thing to see there...up on the other side of the stream bed, is the ruin of a very early Christian church. The baptismal was most interesting.

[@babyfacemichael1]

Went a couple of years ago , it didnt disappoint, Jeresh was also fabulous , a must see if you love archeology.

[@giuliannafardini2433]

I love Archaeology, ancient architecture and History. I've seen the world through your eyes and studying English at the same time - I love your british accent! You are more than I always dreamed. I'm so grateful and delighted. God bless you!

[@7bootzy]

Anyone reading this should definitely watch the Fall of Civilizations video on the Nabataeans as a companion piece.

[@almac2598]

I was lucy enough to visit in the mid 80s when there were no fenced off areas such as the Treasury and the Amphitheatre. Explored all.

[@kimberlypruitt161]

Absolutely fantastic!!! I love this!!!! Dan Snow.....my new Historian crush!

[@danielpistola]

Wow this is amazing! Thank you all for putting this together

[@outsidestuff5283]

Wow what a fascinating place. I really hope I can visit some day

[@Babil00786]

Wow Outstanding Site We Appreciate You 👍🏼

[@karlkarlos3545]

Very bold of Dan Snow to go in there. Remember: "Only the penitent man will pass."

[@jasonrusso9808]

I typed this before reading yours lol

[@JockeB70]

Absolutely fantastic!

[@CountDankula0]

The whole place is stunning, I never knew it had so many other parts to it

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

The site appeared in films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Arabian Nights, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, The Mummy Returns, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and many more.

[@Maybeabandaid9]

Just saw the new Expedition Unknown episode about Petra tonight. Fascinating research going on there.

[@54mgtf22]

Indiana Snow and the temple of Petra.

[@pdtech4524]

What a stunning place, definitely on my places to visit list...😊

[@hamsterhuey9495]

Amazing video best trip around Petra I have ever seen. Thank you. I have always wanted to visit but I doubt I will ever get the chance. I find it a fascinating place and not just because my name is Petra !! 😂🥰

[@TheRollieRollShow800]

Just amazing!! Petra is something else. Can you imagine how it was 2000 years ago

[@AC-gm6bq]

Great episode..

[@Glorfindel_117]

What strikes me about Petra is the complete lack of windows. It seems like all those giant structures are just single floored buildings with extremely small interiors, and the facade outside is simply there as a sign of wealth. Especially that monastery at the end, I would expect to see windows all over the place higher up, but it's probably just a collection of rooms and nothing more on the ground floor. It's a strange design but it clearly worked for them.

[@AceMoonshot]

Like an old west false front.

[@krapfantasy]

yes well wayyyy too much work probably, and what they did carve out is amazing. I am certain their own dwellings were fine enough, let's see what lies under that rubble! Just imagine how that city looked during antiquity, what marvel it must have been, both while sovereign and under Roman rule. Wish I could see it then.

[@krapfantasy]

I mean, cause what we saw now were mostly tombs, and then the amphitheater and temple area. I'd imagine there would be palatial structures perhaps, if they don't think such existed within the already found temple area. I'd imagine more living quarters, and perhaps more humble such, would be found in the surrounding area.

[@lindaoharris]

This was so amazing to watch. I did not want it to end. One of the things I was thinking about watching this poor camera person. I can’t wait to see more of what you do. Thank you so much.

[@Tuffydipstick]

Brings back memories when I visited Jordon and Petra about 7 years ago.

[@evarose92]

Its just absolutely unbelievable how people back that time could work without electrics and creat such a beautiful buildings... Also kind of impossible for me

[@blesd1504]

I just visited there in September. To see it in person was breathtaking. We weren't allowed to enter the treasury. Thank you for giving us access through your video.

[@rightmeduck]

Such a shame,we were 20 years ago, and the candle lit walk up to it at night - just stunning. The colours in the striped rocks so beautiful. The steps up to the 'place of high sacrifice' also worth it. See as much as you can.

[@teague9910]

I went to Petra in 2017, however I would recommend riding the donkey up those steps, as it was a lot less exhausting for me. Petra is one of the coolest places you will ever see on Earth.

[@Blue_22511]

. Why to torture the animals??? Shame on you

[@teague9910]

@@Blue_22511 Cause I'm EVIL! I used an electric prod to get the donkey to move faster. I called it my turbo stick!

[@mirandaROMYN]

I was able to go anywhere in 1979, including the hidden places. I got lost past the High Place and was found by Bedouins. A very memorable experience.

[@marcoh6618]

Went there in 2005, amazing experience. Day I went there were very few people, and explored every nook and cranny in the Treasury and the Monetary. Wonderfull memories being inside with no-one else inside.

[@monet-unique]

It's so remarkable how well preserved and immaculate this place is

[@dstaff7373]

Thanks for making my Bus 🚌 ride to Work 10x more enjoyable...

[@GailRamshaw]

Brilliant thanks! Can’t walk that far now so really enjoyed this

[@leviatawn]

This was magnificent. Thanks for taking us with you on tour. 😊💕

[@nicholahenry539]

Thank you for sharing the hat is a nice touch

[@PixieDixie-r5v]

I shall catch the plane to go there, yes, sir! Such a beautifull and magical place.

[@MatheusKlippert]

Since I first saw Indiana Jones and the last Crusade my dream is to go to Petra with Indy´s cowboy hat exaclty like Dan just did it! Congrats on the great video!!

[@jimmy2263]

Thank you immensely for a great academic exposition on Petra. Ever since Johann Ludwig Burkhardt re-discovered Petra after centuries of obscurity it was handed over to Nabateans simply because there were no claimants. None asked how a nomadic people like Nabateans could create such a magnificent city in the desert and simply vanish back into the dust of the same desert. However, I too had the previlege of doing some research but following a different thread, I was following the spread of Buddhism, that the Buddha was a Mongolian Prince and the majority of population of North India then used to be of Mongolian ethnicity. It was those Mongolian monks who had carved out Petra monastery just as they had done back in India in Ellora and Ajanta. After most of the population had emigrated to South East Asia, the land was claimed by Inndo-Saracenic people who followed Brahminic religion and who are responsible to have erased the last vestiges of Buddhism in India. Unfortunately, modern scholars enquire from the same Brahminic elements about history of Buddhism who in the first place had eradicated the former. My research however, was limited to the work of Mongolian monk missionaries and my seminal work has just one chapter dedicated to Petra monastery. My book called "The Glory of Kirat History" is published by Amazon/KDP. You may wish to check this out: historyofsanskrit.my.canva.site/download-page-website-download-page-in-black-neon-green-casual-corporate-style

[@Poet4Reasoning]

😆You've got it the wrong way round how human movement and equally civilisations spread. You see for your theory to leave the realm of baseless speculative fiction, you'd expect they'd have left at least one single genetic trace "your indo-saracenics" in the Arab Region. Whereas what archeology finds is that the Nabataean Arabs and their inscriptions, Trade relations, arts, culture, guilds etc speak for themselves. As do contemporary cultures they traded with and sold to. Petra is not their only city and neither is their culture an isolate... from Yemen and east Arabia through to their other cities in north Saudi to north Syria and the Mediterranean coast. The Nabateans never disappeared, even during islamic times, arab writers spoke of "Nabatean Agriculture." Rome even possibly had a Nabataean Emperor : Philip The Arab, the city he was from was a Nabatean city way before it ever became Roman.

[@LornaBall]

Incredible 🧡🧐🌸

[@robertdiehl1281]

This was fantastic to watch. Petra is such imo an iconic human and geological landmark. Cool video.

[@revinaque1342]

I listened to the podcast, and I've been waiting for this video! 😀

[@williamrobinson7435]

I was thinking "800 steps? They're not HUGE steps.. 650 ft or something? 3x Beverley Minster plus a bit.. Blimey. Rather you than me, mate.." Nice one Dan and team! 🌟👍

[@dbus1635]

History Hit? History Gobsmack more like. Great channel.

[@Villamartin26]

Lucky enough to visit Petra in 2022. Up early, 3.5hrs there, hours walking around and then that long drive back but thoroughly worth it.

[@johnkim791]

Great music!

[@jrodayeoh]

6:15 so it wasn't Giotto who drew the perfect circle first afterall. Imagine carving a perfect circle from that rock! Impressive.

[@Blisterdude123]

I always love to see Petra...and its multitude of uses in cinema lol As an aside, I can also highly recommend Paul Cooper's Fall of Civilisations Podcast episode on Petra for a compelling and exhaustive exploration of Petra.

[@justinshriramkeeling609]

Great video Dan, and props on rocking the Indy hat :)

[@nishgriff1]

Wow this is great, this channel is the best.

[@blysentt3369]

1. By the dawn 2. And [by] ten nights 3. And [by] the even [number] and the odd 4. And [by] the night when it passes, 5. Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of perception? 6. Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad - 7. [With] Iram - who had lofty pillars, 8. The likes of whom had never been created in the land? 9. And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley? 10. And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes? - 11. [All of] whom oppressed within the lands Quran chapter 89 verse 1 to 11 ❤❤❤

[@nikkihodsdon7787]

I studied in the Middle East during college for a semester and spent a day in Petra. So amazing!

[@tonyjones99]

Dan Snow is the very best.....

[@markdagostino9666]

Magnificent! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful video.

[@JamesMiller-m9o]

Fantastic video, incredible how people used to live in such spectacular cities in the desert. A comparable video on the lost city of Garama would be amazing

[@ginafriend1690]

Thank you!

[@AussieFaraday2024]

This took me back. It truly is the most incredible place on the planet. I still can't believe I have been there. We also went back down the siq at night, and by candelight it was truly astonishing.

[@EggchaserNZ]

I quite enjoyed this episode, thanks Dan & team

[@endorphinex]

I was there a couple of weeks ago. It really is Majestic. Thank for making the video. I learned a lot.

[@lornalong6468]

Fantastic! I love watching your videos. Petra is one of my favourite ancient sites on Earth. Always love seeing & hearing more about it. Thank you

[@franglais-riders]

We visited back in 97 or 98. Back then, there were very few tourists and nothing was cordoned off. We spent 3 days hiking miles around the site. People don’t realise how big and how many monuments are gathered around. It was exhausting as we had to climb up and down steep paths in intense heat. Tough climbs too, very high. We had to carry all our water for the day as once you went away from the main “square” near the treasury, there was nowhere to buy anything. Also the further away from the Treasury, we were often the only ones around with my husband. The feeling was great. Felt like an ancient explorer! Glad we did it back then. Main regret is we never extended to Libya. So many amazing monuments now destroyed.

[@hernanefrain6085]

This is the video that got me to subscribe. Excellent production

[@corinnerogersconstable223]

Amazing! Thank you so much for this adventure❣️

[@Tezzy3399]

So you got the permission to visit all rooms and for first 5 minutes the storytelling was so important, but then you show only the first room, why?...

[@lizmccowage8031]

I makes you want to visit Petra, thank you.

[@acelticmiscellany]

So cool, thanks Dan, I think you've convinced me

[@46LCG]

Thank you, thank you! I was completely unaware of the full extent of Petra! Usually one only sees a photo of the Treasury facade and a brief paragraph. This was so incredible to see the interior and yes, the natural beauty of the rock could not be improved upon by wall paintings. Glorious!

[@Karyn-276a]

Wow, this was stunning. Walking where people Thousands of years ago walked… to imagine how it might have looked during prosperous times. Incredible

[@davidgardiner1166]

I've been to 70+ countries, Jordan is in my top 3, Petra is absolutely fantastic, I could have spent a week there, amazing history ,Johann Ludwig Burckhardt's "discovery" of Petra is pure Indiana Jones stuff

[@alisong2328]

I loved Jordan, too. It's an amazing country, with beautiful people and places.

[@DavidHuber63]

My Man Dan

[@BluffyMoo]

Dan, You've forgotten two other items to bring. Along with the good shoes, plenty of liquid, and a hat, I highly recommend sunglasses and sunblock. It is especially important for those people from cold dreary northern countries that are lacking skin pigmentation.

[@christinesingili]

Loved this walk of Petra ♥I remember getting to know about this place after watching Indiana Jones and the last crusade! Fascinating! Thanks for sharing