Petra Tour: The Siq
The main access to Petra is a 1.2 km long gorge with steep walls up to 70 m high. Along the way there are remains of Nabataean water channels, cult niches and other interesting sights.
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At this broad point of the Siq, rock and water come together, "the ingredients of Nabataean Divine experience". (Merklein & Wenning, 1998). In the rock face (right in the photo) there was a water dripping shrine with a chamber. On the opposite side, archaeologists discovered large cisterns.
In the centre of the worship place is a boulder, in the western side of which, facing the city, an aedicula relief (almost 2.50 m high) has been carved, which is designed like a temple gate. It is framed by pilasters with Nabataean horn capitals. The upper truss is decorated with a metope triglyph frieze crowned by a beveled cornice. The holes on either side of the architrave and in the niche could have served to hang offerings. In the edge on the rock floor immediately in front of the aedicula, depressions may have been made for libations (drinking offerings). The paving around the boulder is raised like a podium.
The two betyls in the niche stand on a trapezoidal base, a mwtb (seat/throne of the deity). The right, smaller pillar betyl (57 cm high) is separated by a narrow joint from the larger eye betyl (77 cm high), in which eyes and nose are symbolized by strictly geometrical forms. "A communicative aspect seems to be implemented in this design of the eye betyl. The deity is shown in interaction by quasi seeing, i.e. perceiving." (Wenning, 2007)
It is assumed that the Betyls embody the presence of Dushara and Al Uzza, the two highest Nabataean gods in Petr
© Photos, text, translation from German: Haupt & Binder
The main access to Petra is a 1.2 km long gorge with steep walls up to 70 m high. Along the way there are remains of Nabataean water channels, cult niches and other interesting sights.
Ein neuentdeckter Augenbetyl in der hremiye-Schlucht nebst einer Übersicht über die bekannten nabatäischen Augenbetyle
In: R. Wenning; U. Hübner; E.A. Knauf (Hrsg.): Nach Petra und ins Königreich der Nabatäer. Notizen von Reisegefährten. Für Manfred Lindner zum 80. Geburtstag. Bodenheim 1998, S. 71-91