Al Mataha Trail

Trail overview

Explore the Al Mataha Trail, one of Petra's most scenic routes that leads from the road's left side until reaching the Urn Tomb, but the first part requires caution due to the sloped terrain. The route is a fascinating exploration of archaeological monuments and water installations, including a 7-meter-long arched bridge over Sha’ab Qais, part of an aqueduct that transported water from Zurrabah reservoir to Palace Tomb. Sadd al'Ma'jan's slot canyon, with numerous cultic niches, is considered a large sanctuary due to its former religious significance to Nabataeans. Walking towards royal tombs, you'll see Sadd al'Ma'jan, an ancient dam. The House of Dorotheus, a wealthy family house, is named after an inscription. An aqueduct is carved from rock above the house. After leaving Dorotheus, you'll see the Carmine façade and the Roman Governor’s Tomb. The final destination is the Royal Tombs on Khubtha Mountain's western side, including the Palace Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, Silk Tomb, and Urn Tomb.

Trail Details

Starting Point: Wadi Musa/Umm Sayhun//Main road/Urf al Deek

Endpoint: Petra/Urn Tomb

Category: Heritage/Environmental/Geological

Distance: 2.9 Km/3806 Steps

Calories Burn: 152 Calories

Duration: 1.30 - 1.45 Hours/Non-stop

Grade: Easy/Moderate

Tour: One-way

The Arched Bridge Over Sha`ab Qais

This arched bridge was a part of an aqueduct that supplied water to a large cistern next to the Palace monument from the Zurrabah water reservoir, which is close to the Petra Museum. The aqueduct is part of the highly sophisticated spring water supply system that covers the entire city basin, bringing spring water from the east, south, and north into the city via locally manufactured terracotta pipes. This system provided the daily drinking water needs of Petra. The arch has a span of 7 meters, and the top of the bridge reaches 20 meters above the bottom of Wadi Sha`ab Qais. It is the only preserved arched bridge in Petra’s entire city area. The construction of the Wadi Sha`ab Qais bridge demonstrates their extensive expertise and water management skills. The bridge was most likely built in the mid-first century BC. The Nabataeans were masters of water management, inventing various water engineering techniques to supply their city, Petra, which reached its peak of prosperity in the first century BC and AD. visible at the Nasara Necropolis.

House of Dorotheus

Although it is known as the House of Dorotheus, it is actually a network of chambers linked together to form a residential complex. It was most likely owned by a large, wealthy family and was named after an inscription found on one of the interior walls that mentioned Dorotheus. The complex is made up of roughly 20 interconnected rooms. It is also notable for having several front terraces and small vegetable gardens that would have met the needs of the family who lived there. There is an ancient aqueduct carved into the rock that passes above the housing complex and can still be seen today. The aqueduct carried water from the Zurrabah water reservoir (which is today located near the Petra archaeological park building) to a cistern beside the Palace Tomb. It probably also served the needs of the family living in this complex, including irrigating the gardens, drinking, and household use. The presence of the house and aqueduct highlights the advanced engineering skills of the inhabitants and their ability to utilize natural resources effectively.

The Carmine Façade 

The "Carmine" facade, named for its striking crimson hue, bears resemblance to the striated facade of the Silk Tomb due to the diverse minerals in the rock. The function of the structure is unclear, and the façade was not completed. There is no entrance or carved interior, and the pilasters have no bases. The Doric frieze that decorates it, as well as the pilaster capitals, are similar to those found in the monastery. The carmine façade was never completed, though the reason is unknown. It could have been due to a lack of funds, a dispute with the builders, or that it was being built during the Roman occupation, which may have halted work that was never resumed. The façade is estimated to date to the 1st century AD and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. Despite its unfinished appearance, the Carmine façade still stands as a testament to the architectural skills of its builders. It is severely eroded, and the natural deterioration must have been accelerated by excess water overflowing from the water channel that runs above the monument.

The Tomb of Sextius Florentinus

After Petra was annexed by the Roman Empire around the turn of the second century AD, Nabataean life in the city generally went on as usual. The tomb of Sextius Florentinus was built during Petra’s Roman period. It was named after the Roman Governor of the Province of Arabia, who was in office at the time of Hadrian in AD 127. A Latin dedication inscription above the doorway reveals that the tomb was built by the son of Sextius Florentinus, the Roman governor of Arabia, in accordance with his father's will. The façade's design combines Nabataean and Roman elements, demonstrating the impact of time on the city and its architecture. A carved head of a fertility goddess can be seen on the segmented pediment, which is crowned by an eroded eagle. In the interior, five deep tomb shafts (loculi) have been carved into the back wall, as well as three larger burial chambers on the right side. A niche in the rear wall was carved to hold idols.

The Palace Monument  

The Palace monument is one of the most prominent monuments in Petra, sculpted out of the western slope of the Jabal al-Hubta rock massif, overlooking the city center. It is so named because its exterior is believed to resemble the façade of a palace from the Roman era, hence its name. This monument is a grandiose five-story façade (49 m wide and approx. 46 m high). Five doors on the first lower level are crowned with triangular or semi-circular gables and framed by engaged columns. Four internal chambers are accessible through the doors. A narrow passage connects the two central ones. On the second level, there are 18 columns that support the third storey, which was partially built with ashlar blocks. The fourth and fifth storeys are adorned with short pilasters and are partially damaged by erosion. A dam and a water reservoir behind the monument drain rainwater to a pool cut to the north of the monument podium. The monument was probably used for banqueting or funerary ceremonies. The Palace Tomb was probably built toward the end of the first century AD, or the early 2nd century AD.

Corinthian Tomb   

When Leon de Laborde visited Petra in 1828, he named it the Corinthian Tomb because of its Greek Corinthian-style capitals on its upper story, closely resembling those of the Khazna.

Its heavily weathered facade, measuring 27.55 meters wide by 28 meters high, consists of three levels. The lowest level is structured by eight half-columns. The middle level, especially on the left side, is also heavily eroded. It includes eight dwarf pilasters aligned with the level below. The upper level, featuring six columns, strongly resembles the Khazna. Despite its weathered condition, the intricate details and similarities to other well-known structures suggest a high level of craftsmanship and design. The facade is believed to have been constructed in the 1st century AD and is thought to have been part of a larger complex. Inside, there are four chambers. The three on the left are nearly square and without ornamentation. The primary chamber, larger in size, contains three spacious recesses in the back wall, while the right side wall hosts four recesses of varying sizes, including a loculus. Traces of four water basins are visible in front of the tomb.

The Silk Tomb  

The Silk Tomb, or streaked tomb, named for the rich colors of its facade resembling an iridescent piece of silk draped on the rock, is one of the Royal Tombs renowned for its striking façade, characterized by swirls of differently colored rock and adorned with horizontal stripes of red, pink, white, brown, black, yellow, and orange. The width of the façade spans 10.8 meters, and its height reaches 19 meters. The monument is probably dated to the first half of the 1st century AD. Immediately on either side of the façade, there are chambers. Within the façade itself, the loculus is carved high up, flanked by two pilasters on each side of the rock face. These loculi were usually used to hold deceased individuals in ancient Nabataean times. The pilasters served as decorative elements to enhance the overall appearance of the façade.

The Urn Tomb  

Similar to its adjacent tombs, this graceful monument is carved deeply into the cliff face at the foot of the Khubtha Ridge, and it is most likely dated to the first half of the first century AD.

This tomb derives its name from the jar that crowns the pediment. It is also sometimes called "the Court" or "Al Mahkama" by the Bedouin community, which thought the underground vaults served as prisons and the building served as a courthouse. It is actually a Nabataean tomb. The tall façade is decorated with engaged columns between pilasters. It has three niches: the central one is close by a human bust. From the courtyard, two doorways open onto an interior large hall (18.95 x 17.15 m), which was remodeled with the carving of three apses. A Greek Byzantine inscription records that the hall, which was originally a royal tomb, was converted into a church by Bishop Jason in AD 447. A monumental stairway built over vaults gave easy access to the church.