Петра: город, высеченный в розовой скале

Petra: A City Carved into Pink Rock

Petra is an ancient city in Jordan. Its most surprising feature is easy to see: important-looking buildings were carved directly into the rock. The rock in the photograph is pink, orange, and red. These colors make the large facade stand out. Look closely at the front. Six tall columns support a wide entrance. Above them, there are steps, straight lines, and small carved shapes. A round form sits in the middle of the upper part. On both sides, tall decorated sections rise toward the rock roof. The dark doorway is at the center. Can you see the small figures and other details near the lower sides? Petra is not a new town. Its beginning is dated to around 800 BCE. It is a historical city, not only one building. The picture shows one impressive part of it, surrounded by natural rock. What would you notice first: the pink stone, the columns, or the dark doorway?