Monastery at Petra

From BlogJordan

The Monastery at Petra Monastery, also known as Al-Dayr (Arabic: الدير,), sometimes referred to Al-Deir or El Deir. Located at 30°20'14.14"N   35°25'48.99"E after an approximately hour long, 850+ stair climb from the restaurants in the Petra basin, one is faced with one of the largest (if not THE largest) façade in Petra. Situated 228.6m (750f) above the elevation of the Qasr al-Bint - or 1,143m (3,750f) above sea level[1] - this massive structure is carved entirely out of mountainside on which it sits. Contrary to its name, the Deir is not originally monastery but rather thought to be an extremely important site of pilgrimage built by the cult of Obodas I (96-86 BC); even though that king lived 150 years before the building was constructed[2].

Contents 1 Architecture 2 History 3 References 4 External Links

[edit] Architecture

The Monastery at Petra is one of the largest monuments in Petra, measuring 47m (154.2 feet) by 48.3m (158.5 feet) high and dates to the early 2nd century AD, during the reign of King Rabel II in honor of King Obodas I.^[3]

Built along the same model of the Khazneh ([Treasury]), Al Dayr differs as the the bas-reliefs are replaced by niches to house sculptures.

Its columned portico extends in the front of the facade. The interior is occupied by two side benches and an alter against the rear wall.

To the left of the structure is a path in which one can - at extreme risk - reach the urn that adorns at the center-top of the Monastery.

[edit] History

The 1990 discovery of an inscription that reads "the symposium of Obodas the God" it is believed that that this monument was a triclinium possibly used for religious gatherings such as banquets in honor of the deified King Obodas I.^[4]

Duringthe Byzantine period, around the 4th century AD ^[5], the hall was reused as a Christian chapel with crosses ere carved into the rear wall, thus the name "Monastery" or "Dayr" in Arabic.

The al-Deir Plateau was extensively explored by Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Nürnberg (NHG), under the direction of Manfred Lindner in 1982 and 1983^[6].

[edit] References

1. ↑ The Jordan Valley and Petra By William Libbey, Franklin Evans Hoskins, pp 324-325
2. ↑ Art and Archeology: Al Deir
3. ↑ WikiPedia: Petra - Religion
4. ↑ Brown University Petra Excavations
5. ↑ Wikipedia: Petra- Religion
6. ↑ Petra National Trust Glossary

[edit] External Links

• National Geographic - Petra's Monastery
• Sacred Destinations: The Monastery (al-Deir), Petra
• World Architecture Images - Jordan - Petra
• Oxford Centre for Late Antiquity: Judith McKenzie
• Brown University The Petra Great Temple - History
• Seattle PI : Mysterious marvels in Jordan's ancient city of Petra
• Petra: The Deir
• Touristic Sites - Petra
• Jordanian Board of Tourism - Petra Sites
• Rough Guides: Petra - the Monastery