Al Khazneh
Al-Betrā'
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the arid, sweeping landscapes of the Jordanian desert. You are about to embark on a journey into one of the most magnificent and mysterious archaeological sites on the face of the earth. …
Listen in the app2The Descent Through The Siq
Our approach to Al Khazneh begins with a necessary psychological and physical transition. We are walking through the Siq, a massive, naturally occurring geological fault line that split the mountain in two. …
Listen in the app3The Hydraulic Miracles of the Siq
As we continue our walk through the deepest part of the gorge, I want you to direct your attention away from the towering peaks and look down at the base of the rock walls beside our path. You will notice a deep, carefully carved…
Listen in the app4The Grand Reveal at the Plaza
We have finally reached the end of our one-kilometer trek through the darkness of the Siq. The canyon walls ahead suddenly pull back, revealing a sliver of blinding natural light. …
Listen in the app5The Lower Facade and the Corinthian Portico
Let us step a bit closer and analyze the lower floor of the magnificent facade. Dominating the ground level are six massive columns that form a grand portico. …
Listen in the app6The Upper Facade and the Hellenistic Tholos
Lift your gaze upward to the second story of the monument, where the architectural narrative becomes even more complex and explicitly Hellenistic. Right in the center of the upper level, you will see a prominent circular…
Listen in the app7The Legendary Urn and the Scaffold Holes
Now, focus your eyes on the very pinnacle of the facade, resting at the very top of the central circular tholos. There sits a massive, seemingly solid stone urn. …
Listen in the app8The Grand Entrance and the Inner Chamber
Let us now ascend the wide stone steps, walk between the towering Corinthian columns, and pass through the massive entranceway into the monument itself. The doorway before us is an astounding eight meters high. …
Listen in the app9The Subterranean Tombs
Before we conclude our physical exploration of Al Khazneh, we must look down at the very ground beneath our feet. For nearly two millennia, visitors stood in this courtyard completely unaware of the secrets hiding just below the…
Listen in the app10Closing
As we stand in the shadow of Al Khazneh and look back toward the dark mouth of the Siq, it is time to reflect on the ultimate fate of this remarkable civilization. By the first century AD, the Nabataean kingdom was one of the…
Listen in the app
What is Al Khazneh?
Al Khazneh is a place in Al-Betrā' with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Al-Betrā' |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 30.3221, 35.4515 |
| Last updated |
