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  3. The Holy Land

The Holy Land

Sites we learned of from the Old and New Testaments. Including: Nabatea; Gadara; Mt. Nebo; Sodom and Gomorrah; Galilee
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The view from atop the battlements at Karak castle, down the Wadi al-Karak towards the Dead Sea. The bluffs on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea are clearly visible in the distance. According to legend, the ancient Biblical condemned cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were between Karak and the Dead Sea, in this view. The Crusader castle at Karak guarded the eastern border of the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the first Crusade. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Karak al-Karak castle crusader crusades knights fort fortress history historic tourist tourism antiquities 'Kingdom of Jerusalem' battlement battlements walls keep chapel ruin ruins view panorama cross-country
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The view from atop the battlements at Karak castle, down the Wadi al-Karak towards the Dead Sea. The bluffs on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea are clearly visible in the distance. According to legend, the ancient Biblical condemned cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were between Karak and the Dead Sea, in this view. The Crusader castle at Karak guarded the eastern border of the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the first Crusade. © Rick Collier




Jordan Karak al-Karak castle crusader crusades knights fort fortress history historic tourist tourism antiquities 'Kingdom of Jerusalem' battlement battlements walls keep chapel ruin ruins view panorama cross-country

jordan07antiquitiesbright sunnybuildings structurescastleshistorical sitesjordantravelalkarakbluebrowndestcattanbibleromanancientbiblicalcrusadecrusaderkingdom of jerusalemholy land

  • Nabatea -- Roman ruins and the capital of Nabatea spread out behind a Bedouin man, seeking tourists to ride his mule "taxi." © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley block blocks desert necropolis 'colonnaded street' 'Cardo Maximus' donkey arab bedouin
  • Petra Apartments. A variety of living rooms have been hand-cut into the rock walls of the valley. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley cave caves desert necropolis
  • The Petra Valley opens out from the Wadi ad-Deir, at the back of the Nabatean capital city. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis 'Wadi ad-Deir'
  • Steps -- Nearly 1,000 stairs climb the Wadi ad-Deir at the back of Petra, climbing to overlooks and more tombs cut into the mountains above. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis steps stairs arab bedouin vendor donkey
  • The stairs ascend under a fallen rock in the Wadi ad-Deir. Petra, Jordan. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis steps stairs tunnel fallen arch
  • The massive "Monestary" (ad-Deir) was most likely another tomb. This magnificent carved ediface is found at the top of nearly 1,000 steps, at the top of the Wadi ad-Deir at the back of the Nabatean capital of Petra, Jordan. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley desert necropolis monestary 'ad-Deir'
  • The modern town of Wadi Musa is visible in the hills beyond Petra, overshadowed by the massive "monestary" at the overlook points at the back of Petra. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley desert necropolis monestary 'ad-Deir arab town village 'Wadi Musa'
  • "Carvings" -- The rock face by the part in the Wadi ad-Deir shows clear evidence of carving by the Nabateans in Biblical times. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley desert path walk tool marks
  • "Office Space" -- A table and chest mark a bedouin's usual place of business, where the owner can rest in the carved spaces created by the Nabateans in the Wadi ad-Deir, at the back of Petra. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis steps stairs arab bedouin vendor table desk chest office space
  • "Ground Floor Rooms" -- Petra was occupied until recently by a beddouin tribe. The wealthier members of the tribe adapted the original hand-cut Nabatean caves by adding walls and doors. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis steps stairs arab bedouin hut shack door wall window home hovel apartment
  • Royal Tombs, Petra, Jordan. The "Palace Tomb" anchors the left side of a row of Nabatean "royal tombs" when viewed from the Roman ruins in the valley of Petra. A row of © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis
  • Petra, Jordan -- The ancient Roman "Colonnaded Street" ("Cardo Maximus") seems to lead directly to the most impressive Nabatean "royal tombs," with the "Palace Tomb" on the left. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis 'Colonnaded Street' street road cobblestone 'Cardo Maximus' royal
  • Petra, Jordan. The setting sun lights up the famous "Urn Tomb" (left side) and reveals many levels of residences and tombs cut into the rock valley walls. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis street road 'Urn Tomb'
  • Inside the "Urn Tomb," Petra, Jordan. The ceiling and walls of this hand-carved space reveal the fantastic grain of the natural sandstone rock from which it was carved. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley desert necropolis street road 'Urn Tomb' interior window door sunlight sandstone rock grain
  • Inside the "Urn Tomb," Petra, Jordan. The ceiling and walls of this hand-carved space reveal the fantastic grain of the natural sandstone rock from which it was carved. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley desert necropolis street road 'Urn Tomb' interior window door sunlight sandstone rock grain
  • "Urn Tomb," Petra, Jordan. This incredible structure was all hand-carved from the rock of the valley wall. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley desert necropolis street road 'Urn Tomb' sandstone rock grain
  • "Royal Tomb," Petra, Jordan. The hand-cut openings for this Nabatean royal tomb revealed rich grain and swirls of color in the natural rock. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis sandstone rock grain
  • "The Treasury," Petra. The first "structure" encountered after emerging from the Siq into the Nabatean ruins at Petra. Carved completely by hand from the rock, this structure was probably actually a tomb. It was dubbed "the treasury" due to a rumor that the Pharoah's gold was hidden in the carved "urn" shape at the top of this facade. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley desert necropolis Treasury
  • The Treasury comes into sight as riders finally complete the 1.2 km long Siq, to emerge in the ancient Nabatean capital of Petra, Jordan. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Petra Nabatea Nabatean Rome Roman ruin archeology 'ancient world' antiquity cave 'cave dwelling' antiquities Bible Biblical civilization history historic desert stone cliff wall carve carved facade tourist tourism archeology royal tomb tombs valley path road hike trail desert necropolis street road Siq Treasury opening
  • The view from atop the battlements at Karak castle, down the Wadi al-Karak towards the Dead Sea. The bluffs on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea are clearly visible in the distance. According to legend, the ancient Biblical condemned cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were between Karak and the Dead Sea, in this view. The Crusader castle at Karak guarded the eastern border of the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the first Crusade. © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Jordan Karak al-Karak castle crusader crusades knights fort fortress history historic tourist tourism antiquities 'Kingdom of Jerusalem' battlement battlements walls keep chapel ruin ruins view panorama cross-country
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