Ancient Mysteries: The Hidden City of Petra on AllMovie

The city of Petra is the subject of this installment of a series exploring ancient mysteries. Petra is located in present day Jordan, and was the capital of an ancient Arabic kingdom called Nabataea, which flourished from the 4th century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D. Once a vital trade center, Petra passed into memory until its ruins were discovered by Jakob Burckhardt in 1812. The magnificent city is carved into a russet colored mountain, accessible only by a two mile chasm that leads into it. Entering into the confines of this natural configuration, one finds an astonishing sight: 35 miles of temples, tombs, streets, and canal systems. Beautiful frescoes and pottery remain as silent witnesses to the mysterious past of a ophisticated, technologically advanced civilization. The viewer goes on location with archeological teams as they search for clues to this little known chapter in human history.