The Byzantine monastic complex on Jabal Harun

Jabal Harun, a site of great historical and religious importance, is located in the Petra region. This sacred mountain, Mount Aaron, or ‘Jabal Harun’ in Arabic, is believed to be where Aaron, the brother of Moses, was buried. It is the highest peak in the area, rising 1338 m above sea level to command a great view over the area. This mountain was a landmark along the old trade route to Sinai and Egypt via the pass of Naqb al-Ruba’i. Its spiritual and religious significance has drawn people to it over the ages. The Finnish Jabal Harun Project (FJHP) uncovered a monastic complex built here in the 4th to 5th centuries AD. The complex included a basilica, an adjacent chapel added later, and associated rooms, as well as a hostel for pilgrims and courtyards. The site of the complex measures 62 m north-south and 48 m east-west. This complex was in use up until the 10th century AD. A mosque was built at the peak in the 14th century, the white dome of which can be spotted from almost anywhere in Petra, and it is referred to as Aaron’s Tomb. The site offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and is a popular destination for locals and tourists.


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