The Petra Museum. Art Destination Jordan

The Petra Museum is located near the entrance to the archaeological park. In addition to unique exhibits, it offers a wide range of information for a deeper understanding of the ancient capital of the Nabataeans and its surrounding area.

Petra Museum / © Foto: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

In 8 thematically and chronologically arranged galleries, more than 300 archaeological finds from Petra and the region since the Stone Age are on display, focusing on the heyday of the Nabataeans in the 1st century AD and the Roman era from 106 AD. Video projections, interactive touch screens and numerous display panels, all in Arabic and English, vividly convey basic aspects of the geology, climate, flora and fauna, as well as the technological, agricultural, craftsmanship and artistic skills of the people who once lived in the city and the area. Through corresponding entries on the exhibit signs and accmpanying texts, the visitors are made aware again and again of the fact that the Nabataeans called their city "Raqmu" and that "Petra" is a foreign Greek denomination.

The Petra Museum was opened by Crown Prince Hussein on 18 April 2019, after five years of construction. The Government of Japan contributed funding of 7 million U$ and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided technical and logistical support. The well-designed building with a total area of 1800 m2, of which 800 m2 are climate-controlled galleries, was designed by the Japanese architect Yamashita Sekkei. The museological concept and the contents of the multimedia and graphic information were developed developed mainly by Jordanian experts.

The beautiful museum building with water basins on two sides and spacious open areas is aimed to be a place of education and recreation also for the local population and not only for tourists. Admission is free of charge.