Athena Review Image Archive ™
Petra: The Corinthian Tomb in the East Ridge
Petra: The Corinthian Tomb (Vignes in de Vogue 1874, pl.48/NYPL Archives.)
Petra is located in southwestern Jordan. The site represents a unique complex of ancient temples and tombs carved into the sides of cliffs, dating from the Nabataean, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
This 1874 photo by Vignes shows the facade of the 2nd century AD Nabataean tomb carved in the East Ridge, named (somewhat inaccurately) the Corinthian Tomb. In 1828 an early explorer, Leon de Laborde, identified its capitals as Corinthian, whereas both capitals and facade are in the Late Hellenistic, Alexandrian style.
The
Corinthian Tomb's upper storey, with a rounded, central tholos between
a discontinous pediment, is comparable to that on the Khaznet Faroun
(Treasury). In the lower storey, several entrances and blank walls
occur amid eight engaged columns. Between the upper and lower levels is
a third, truncated, order with short columns. At left is the
Palace Tomb.
The photos of Petra by Vignes in the de Vogue volume are held at the Archive of the New York Public Library (NYPL).
.Copyright © 1996-2020 Rust Family Foundation (All Rights Reserved).