Siq

Approx. Time: 2 hours
Activity Level: Easy to Moderate

Leading into the magnificent city of Petra is the rich and fascinating passage called "the Siq." The Siq is a narrow winding valley that leads into Petra. Dozens of local Bedouins with horses can be found at the entrance that one can hire for a ride down to the actual Siq. Even before you reach the Siq, you will notice three square free-standing tombs on your right. No evidence of bones has yet been found, but it may be that these are a type of tombstone. Further along on the left, built high into the cliff, stands the Obelisk Tomb, which once stood seven meters high. Five graves were found inside the tomb, four represented by pyramid-shaped pillars and the last by a statue between the middle pillars. Closer to the Siq, rock-cut channels once brought the waters of Ein Mousa through ceramic pipes to the inner city as well as to the surrounding farm country. When designing a new dam, excavators uncovered the Nabateans’ ancient dam and used it as a model for the modern one.

As you enter the Siq, the path narrows to about five meters and the walls tower over 200 meters overhead, casting enormous shadows on the niches that once held icons of the gods Dushara and al-Uzza. The icons were meant to protect the entrance and hex unwelcome visitors. The entrance to the Siq was once topped by a ceremonial arch built by the Nabateans. It survived until the late ninth century, and you can still see remains of it as you enter the gorge. The original channels cut in the walls to bring water into Petra can also be seen, and in some places the original terracotta pipes are still in place.

Courtesy of Israel Tourism Board

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