Petra Tour: High Place of Sacrifice
One of the most beautiful tours in Petra leads to the high sanctuary on the Jabal al-Madhbah, passing the so-called obelisks, and down into Wadi Farasa East.
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Twelve Nabataean inscriptions are carved into the smoothed wall under a rock ledge in the upper part of the western path next to the graffito of a nefesh, in memory of someone called Qaimat, the son of Amrat, among others.
See the detail photo of one of the inscriptions which reads: "Let Qayyammat, son of 'Amrat be commemorated in good faith, and that he is (safe and sound)". (translated from the French, quoted in: Laïla Nehmé, MP 170, p. 191)
© Photos, text: Haupt & Binder
One of the most beautiful tours in Petra leads to the high sanctuary on the Jabal al-Madhbah, passing the so-called obelisks, and down into Wadi Farasa East.
Freestanding stone pillars shaped like an obeliskoid pilaster or a pointed cone, or in bas-relief or graffito, roughly carved or engraved into rock-faces, often with a blossom/pinecone or a stylized crown at the top. Many nefeshes are set upon a base, where the name of the dead person is given. Often various nefeshes are grouped together. The Semitic word "npš" means “life,” “person,” or “soul.” It denotes a dead person and is used in this sense for a memorial marker.
Examples: Obelisk Tomb (Bab as-Siq); Obelisks (Jabal al-Madhbah); Tomb BD 825 (see details)