Dubbed the rose city because of the red rocks it is carved out of, the mysterious Petra in Jordan has captivated the local Bedouins as well as the tourists across the world for centuries. But what ghosts and ghouls are haunting the place?
Petra, Jordan, is a city steeped in mystery and intrigue. Known as the Rose City, Petra is home to some of the most impressive ancient architecture in the world. But behind the stunning facade lies a dark and haunted history. From tales of curses and lost treasure to unexplained apparitions and eerie sounds, Petra is a place where the paranormal and the historical collide.
From the ghostly whispers of ancient spirits to the curses of long-dead pharaohs, there’s no shortage of spine-tingling stories to be found in Petra, often called Rose city because of the reddish sandstone cliffs.
The History of Petra
Petra is an ancient city that was once the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. The city was founded in the 6th century BC and was a major trading hub for spices, incense, and other valuable goods. Petra’s location at the intersection of several important trade routes made it a wealthy and powerful city.
The Nabataeans were skilled architects and engineers who carved their homes and temples out of the sandstone cliffs that surround Petra. The most famous of these structures is the Treasury, a magnificent temple that was carved into the rock face and served as the tomb of a Nabataean king.
There are huge Hellenistic structures carved into solid rock that served as a mausoleum for the wealthy dead.
Petra’s glory days came to an end in the 2nd century AD when the city was conquered by the Roman Empire. There were also earthquakes that changed the trade route that contributed to the decline of Petra. Permanent residency of Petra essentially ended in the 6th century CE, when water access was diminished for the city’s 20,000 inhabitants and regional competitor Palmyra took the reins of the trade between the Persians and the Romans.
Over time, Petra was abandoned and fell into ruin. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Petra was rediscovered by Western explorers in 1812, when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt made the locals bring him there, and it became a popular tourist destination. Despite its ancient origins, Petra’s history is not all sunshine and roses. The city has seen its fair share of tragedy and bloodshed over the centuries, which has given rise to some of the most chilling ghost stories in the world.
The Forgotten Treasury Al-Khazneh
One of the most famous legends associated with Petra is that of the lost treasure of the Nabataeans called Al-Khazneh, or the enchanted Treasury. According to this legend from Bedouin folklore, the Nabataeans were incredibly wealthy from spice and silk trade and amassed a vast fortune over the centuries. When the Romans invaded Petra, the Nabataeans were forced to flee, leaving their treasure behind. It is said that the treasure is still hidden somewhere in Petra, waiting to be discovered by a brave and lucky adventurer.
One legend about the treasury is that to protect the treasure, a pharaoh put a curse on the place. According to the story, an Egyptian pharaoh and some in his army escaped when the Red Sea closed when they hunted Moses. They created the treasury with magic as a safe place before they continued to hunt Moses down. And those willing to break the rules and search for the treasure, will feel the wrath of the curse.
Some think that the treasury was more a place of worship or a burial chamber, more than a place of hiding away treasures. Many of the sculptures are of various creatures from mythology that were associated with the afterlife.
Petra is also home to several mysterious and unexplained phenomena. Visitors to the city have reported hearing ghostly whispers and moans coming from the ancient ruins. Some have even claimed to have seen apparitions of long-dead Nabataean warriors and priestesses wandering the streets of Petra, still protecting their home.
The Haunted Stories of Petra
Visitors to Petra have reported a wide range of paranormal activities. Some have reported seeing orbs of light floating through the ancient ruins, while others have claimed to have heard disembodied voices and footsteps. Some have even reported feeling a cold breeze or a sudden drop in temperature, even on the hottest days.
Some say that the ghosts haunting Petra are Nabatean merchants or Roman legionnaires who died in battle. There are also those saying that the place is haunted by a group of school girls.
In 1963, a sudden flood killed 23 Lebanese schoolgirls. According to some, their spirit is haunting the halls and you can hear their laughter turning into screams after night echoing through the red walls in the mile long gorge or Siq, leading into Petra.
The Djinn Blocks
When you walk down the Street of Facades you will come across three enormous obelisks called Djinn Blocks. The blocks are probably from the 2nd century B.C and according to bedouin legends, they were the dwellings of the djinns, an Islamic legend about the Djinns, made from smokeless fire.
They appear to visitors as a flash of light or as a blowing whirls of wind. Djinns are said to appear at night and are said to be behind the nightly haunting when they came from the burial chambers and dark corners of Petra.
The Monastery Ad-Deir
Getting to higher ground, you will find the Monastery, or the Ad-Deir. This monumental building was probably carved out from rock in the mid-first century AD. It is perhaps the second most known building in Petra after the Khazneh.
According to stories, the ghost of a guard is haunting this location. There are also those saying they have seen someone looking like wearing ancient robes like a Nabatean monk, disappearing around behind the walls.
Like someone is still protecting their sacred ground.
The Mystery of Petra’s Lost City
Despite its haunted history, Petra remains a popular tourist destination. Visitors flock to the city from all over the world to explore the ancient ruins and experience the rich history and culture of the Nabataean people.
In fact, the surface of Khazneh has receded by 40 mm in less than ten years from people touching, leaning or rubbing against the walls.
Perhaps the greatest mystery of Petra is the city itself. Despite years of archaeological research, much of Petra remains shrouded in mystery and intrigue. The city is home to several hidden tombs and underground tunnels, many of which have yet to be fully explored. Some believe that these tunnels lead to secret chambers where the lost treasure of the Nabataeans is hidden.
Newest Posts
- The Utburd of Børholmen and Erika Larsdatter Bogen: A Haunting and Scam That Reached the Courtroom
In 1852, the alleged psychic Erika Larsdatter Bogen, arrived at Børholmen, a small island in western Norway. She claimed that she had found the ghost and corpse of the dead child, and she named the mother who allegedly buried it. But what was the truth? - Most Haunted Places in Ireland
Ghostly whispers in the old castle ruins, soldiers haunting the bloody battlefields and even the drums of pagan druids still lingering, Ireland is certainly a haunted country. This is only a small portion of the most haunted places in Ireland and the ghost stories behind them. - The Brown Clad Man Haunting Sande Old Vicarage
Who is the ghostly priest in brown, haunting the old Vicarage in Sande? Legend says he still carries guilt for the young boy he failed that had tragic consequences. - El Dip: The Catalan Vampire Hound
In the rural mountainside in Catalonia, Spain, there have long been talk about a vampiric beast of a hound that has tormented the livestock and the unfortunate person walking outside after dark. Could this legend be the one where other iberian vampire legends sprung from? - The Haunting of Caerphilly Castle – The Lady in Green and the Hag of Death
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death. - The Haunted Tunnels of Hegra Fortress
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels. - Wolfe Tone Square: The Hanging Judge Who Could Not Rest
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge. - The Cabin Caretaker Still at the Mountain
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau. - Guajona: The Blood-Thirsty Entity of Iberian Folklore
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood. - Feltrim Hill: The Hellhound and the Haunted Well
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers. - The Lady of Losby Manor and other Ghosts Lingering
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home. - Westown House and the Ghosts Rising from the Ruins
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
References:
The Backstory Behind Petra, Jordan’s Ancient Ghost City
Echoes in the Rose-Red Stone: Petra’s Haunted History as Jordan’s Desert Mirage | Horror
Block tombs, Bab as-Siq, Petra. Art Destination Jordan
