Athena Review Image Archive ™
Petra: The Palace Tomb in the East Ridge
Petra: The Palace Tomb (Roberts 1839-49/Wellcome Collection)
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 image by David Roberts, painted in 1839, shows the mid-2nd century AD Nabataean Palace Tomb, named for its elaborate facade.The lower of three levels has four entrances, framed by pillars with Nabataean capitals that support triangular pediments. Above is a portico consisting of sixteen engaged half-columns. Over the portico, in the upper right corner are the remains of an architrave.
Adjoining the Palace Tomb to the right, seen
in perspective, are the Corinthian Tomb, and several more rock-cut tombs of the East Ridge.
The David Roberts prints are held at the Wellcome Collection in London.
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