Royal Tombs


 

 

Overlooking the center of Petra rise majestically the so-called "Royal Tombs," a series of large mausoleums with impressive facades hewn from the western slope of the Jabal al-Khubtha rock massif.

It is not possible to associate them to particular Nabataean rulers, due to the lack archaeological evidence. But recent research seems to confirm their royal context. Surveys of the North-East Petra Project (NEPP) on a hill in front of al-Khubtha, postulate the area between the Wadi Musa and Wadi Mataha as the royal quarters of the Nabataean capital, where the monumental Palace Tomb could have served as "the tomb or heroon of the kings of Petra" (more on the photo pages.)

For the Corinthian Tomb right beside of it, Al-Khazneh (Treasury) obviously served as model: Crowned by a large tholos framed by a broken pediment, it has Corinthian capitals enriched with floral decoration.

While the less royal Silk Tomb attracts by the iridescent colors of its eroded façade, the magnificent Urn Tomb stands out in the mausoleums' row. Among its peculiarities, it has a two-story substructure of arched vaults, and a large colonnaded courtyard in front of it, from which you can enjoy a spectacular view over the city. The complex was converted into a Byzantine church in 446 AD.


The so called Royal Tombs are sculpted out of the western steep slope of the Jabal al-Khubtha rock massif. At the center, the Urn Tomb.


 

 

The magnificent Tomb BD 772 stands out among the so-called Royal Tombs, due to its complexity and unique features.

 

 

Supporting a wide open staircase, the Urn Tomb has a two-story substructure of arched vaults incorporated into the partly free-standing and partly rock-cut chambers behind them. The assumption that the vaulted substructure was not built until the 5th century AD might be plausible. However, according to Judith McKenzie the stone work with neat lines of tooling tilted at forty-five degrees indicate that it is contemporary with the tomb rather than a later construction re-using Nabataean stones.

The interior is a large almost square chamber (18.95 x 17.15 m). On the far left of the back wall, a Greek inscription painted in red was found, according to which Bishop Jason had the complex converted into a Byzantine church in 446 AD. For liturgical reasons, the three chambers of the rear wall were transformed into three flat-vaulted apses. On the southern side of the church there is a pit grave and another one in the right apse. A marble block with the grave inscription dedicated to Dionysius, son of Bishop Jason, who died in the year 447 AD, has been preserved.

 

Source and Reference — Universes in Universe