Petra Tour: Qasr al-Bint
The main temple of Petra is the best-preserved freestanding structure of the ancient city. It is an excellent example of the fusion of Greco-Roman and Eastern elements in Nabataean architecture.
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On the east side of the temple, two segments of the elaborate entablature with Doric frieze remained remarkably intact despite several devastating earthquakes.
The architrave consists of two fasciae (horizontal mouldings, projecting from bottom to top) with guttae (Latin for drops, drop-like hanging elements) on the lower ledge.
In the Doric frieze of yellow sandstone, triglyphs alternate with floral rosettes and framed metopes, now empty. In these were figural limestone reliefs such as that of Helios, the sun god, with a crown of rays, found at Qasr al-Bint. "The Helios metope proves that besides the aniconic worship of the gods also anthropomorphic representations appeared, whereby the Nabataeans made use of Hellenistic models. ... Image typologies of such gods, which could be assimilated to aspects of Nabataean deities, were adopted. Thus, if one wanted to depict the Semitic lord of the heavens, either Helios and Zeus Olympios were suitable. …" (Schauerte & Wenning, pp. 144-145)
On the widely projecting wreath cornice, the lower dentil frieze is still clearly visible.
Above the cornice rises an undecorated wall - probably an attic that surrounded a terrace roof.
© Photos, summary, translation: Haupt & Binder, Universes in Universe
The main temple of Petra is the best-preserved freestanding structure of the ancient city. It is an excellent example of the fusion of Greco-Roman and Eastern elements in Nabataean architecture.
Chapter Qasr al-Bint.
In: Gesichter des Orients. 10000 Jahre Kunst und Kultur aus Jordanien. Accompanying publication to the exhibition in Berlin and Bonn. Kapitel 7.1: Verschmelzung der Kulturen: Petra - Dekapolis.
Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, 2004. p. 143 - 145