Petra: Splendours of the Nabatean Civilization (Timeless Treasures) - Tapa dura

Nestled in the mountains of Jordan, Petra is the most spectacular ancient city remaining in the modern world. This fascinating volume takes readers on a memorable journey through this wonderland of hundreds of temples, tombs, and elaborate buildings carved out of solid stone. Tracing the origins of Petra to prehistoric times, the text describes its evolution, demise, and eventual rediscovery in 1812. Throughout the book, archival photographs showcase the remarkable architecture and readers are given the opportunity to explore al-Khazueh, "The Treasury," one of the most impressive of Petra's monuments. Other remarkable sights include the 8,000-seat amphitheater, Petra Church with its beautifully preserved mosaics, and al-Deir or "The Monastery" perched high on a cliff, all vividly depicted in the photography of this handsome volume. With text contributed in part by the distinguished American Center of Oriental Research in Amman, this authoritative resource is essential reading for archaeologically-minded travelers and anyone interested in ancient history.

Barbara A. Porter is currently the head of the American Institute of Archaeology at Amman, in Jordan, and has worked as an assistant curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and has taught in the Fine Arts Department at New York University. Archaeologist Francesca Arianna Ossorio is affiliated with the Archaeology Section of the Department of Sciences of Antiquity at the University of Milan and the Archaeology Section of the Ala Ponzone Civic Museum, Cremona. She is a member of the Italian-Syrian Mission working at Palmyra (Tadmor) in Syria.