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.
For an optimal view of our website, please rotate your tablet horizontally.
The monumental relief of a lion (4.55 x 2.90 m) is carved into the eastern rock face of a site where there used to be a basin. The canal above the destroyed head of the animal is fed by a branch of the aqueduct which supplied drinking water from the spring Ayn Brāq (south of Petra) to the city area. Whether the water really gushed through the mouth of the lion into a rock basin in front of it like a fountain statue cannot be determined anymore. A water channel also runs to the right of the head. Up to now there is no verifiable evidence as to whether the lion can be assigned to a particular deity or whether it was placed at this point as a guardian figure or symbol of power.
© 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.