The Siq, Petra

  Entrance to the Siq
by TravellerMel
 
  • Entrance to the Siq
      Entrance to the Siq
    by TravellerMel
  •   The Siq
    by sfphototraveller
  • ROCK CUT TOMB IN PETRA
      ROCK CUT TOMB IN PETRA
    by sfphototraveller
  • FISH FACE IN PETRA
      FISH FACE IN PETRA
    by sfphototraveller
  • SLOT  IN PETRA
      SLOT IN PETRA
    by sfphototraveller
 

63 Reviews of The Siq

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The Siq
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Maria81 373 reviews

What?

Almost a mile long, the Siq is the main tourist route into Petra. The winding tunnel is actually not a tunnel at all, but a fissure in the rock, widened by tectonic plate movement. Widening and narrowing, sometimes it's only about 5 feet wide

Visiting

Most of the tourists walk this route to the Treasury, although horses and donkeys are available for hire. It's an easy walk, which is only made challenging in the extreme heat, and even then, the walls of the Siq do provide plenty of shade.

The winding path through the Siq helps build anticipation for one's first view of the Treasury (or Al-Khaznekh), for when it will finally appear through the crack in the Siq. Once it does, this is the iconic photograph of Petra everyone will be trying to take – difficult given the crowds, but doable, if you show enough patience.

Written Apr 25, 2011

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 Archeology
 Photography

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Siq
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Gili_S 4484 reviews

Siq is the name of the last leg before approaching the famous Al Khazneh. It is in the lower part of the canyon and very narrow part of it, you will slowly proceed and then suddenly you will notice ahead of you the famous beautiful site.

Updated Jan 2, 2011

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Walking down through the narrow valleys of rock
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angiebabe 1494 reviews
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Walking down through the valley or rock with exciting anticipation of arriving at The Treasury - Petra!
Its about half an hour or so of gentle slope from the entrance through the Siq walkway down to the Treasury - with all sorts of interesting rock formations, carvings into the rocks, cut outs that look like they were places to keep lanterns to light the way at night - and even statues in the rocks

Have your camera ready for this part of course

- remember then that its another half an hour or so of uphill to get back out again!...in addition to the potential hours walking around the Petra site

Updated Oct 26, 2010

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Walk Through the Siq
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TravellerMel 499 reviews
Entrance to the Siq
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The Siq is the main entrance to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. The dim, narrow gorge (in some points no more than 3 meters wide) winds its way approximately one mile and ends at Petra's most elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh (The Treasury).

The Siq is a natural geological fault produced by tectonic forces and worn smooth by water erosion. The walls that enclose the Siq stand between 300-600 feet in height.

Local people will offer horse-drawn carriage rides and camel rides for the one-mile trek thru the Siq. If you have difficulty walking, this might be the best option for you, but if possible, I recommend you walk it. There is much to see along the way (especially if you have a good guide) including sculptures, aquaducts, tombs, etc. But walking it makes so much sweeter that first glimpse of the Treasury through the last of the narrow gorge.

Updated Oct 12, 2010

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 Desert

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Street of Facades
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 3860 reviews
Street of Facades
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This is a row of monumental Nabataean tombs carved in the southern cliff face of the Outer Siq. The facades are crowned with corner crow-steps, pilasters and cavettos.
As the Outer Siq opens out, the Street of Facades becomes visible. Whole streets, 4 rows, one above the other, of Assyrian type monuments with double bands of crow-step decoration run along the cliff face. It isn't known whether these served as houses or tombs but they appear to be of an early date.

You can watch my 3 min 34 sec HD Video Jordan Petra part 5 Facades street out of my Youtube channel.

Updated Oct 5, 2010

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Bab as-Siq
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 3860 reviews
Bab as-Siq (Outer Siq)
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After entering the gate in Petra, and before you reach the Siq, you walk through an area called ‘Bab Al Siq’, Arabic for gateway to the ‘Siq’. There are several monuments of note along the way starting with three massive Djinn or god blocks, the Obelisk Tomb and the Triclinium below it with an ancient bilingual inscription.

While the horse riders and buggy riders go trotting past, those walking can stop and view the sites.

You can watch my 3 min 39 sec HD Video Jordan Petra part 2 out of my Youtube channel.

Updated Oct 2, 2010

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Al-Siq Canyon details
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 3860 reviews
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The Siq is a meandering path between beautifully-colored sandstone cliffs about 150m high on each side. Occasionally the path widens enough to allow in warm sunlight and even a tree; other times it becomes so narrow (as little as 2 meters apart) that the stone seems to block out virtually all heat, light, and sound.
There are many things to see along the Siq. Take special note of how the water has eroded away the sandstone.
Along the way are some small niches, shrines and carvings to investigate, and running alongside the length of the Siq are water channels carved by the Nabateans to provide water to the city of Petra.
Check out some of the incredible colors in the red-rose rock mountains of Petra.

You can watch my 3 min 32 sec HD Video Jordan Petra part 3 Siq out of my Youtube channel.

Updated Oct 2, 2010

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Al-Siq Canyon
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 3860 reviews
Al-Siq Canyon
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This is a narrow gorge which leads visitors into Petra. It’s more than a kilometer long and opening up at the Treasury. As well as presenting a dramatic entryway into Petra, many relics can be seen in the Siq including a paved road and Nabataean sacred stones.
The Siq itself begins where the path drops sharply down. The entrance to the Siq was originally marked by an ornamental arch; it collapsed in 1896, but its decorated abutments survive.

The Siq is not technically a gorge, as it was formed not by erosion but tectonic forces, which caused the rock to split dramatically in half. It was only then that the waters of the Wadi Musa flowed in and the winds blew through the newly-formed gap, gradually rounding the sharp edges into smooth curves.

Written Oct 2, 2010

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Bab as-Siq Triclinium
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 3860 reviews
Bab as-Siq Triclinium

The Bab Al-Siq Triclinium is the first of approximately 100 similar monuments to be found throughout the site. It was constructed at a later date and more classical in style.
There were rock-carved rooms with benches running around three sides of their interior, situated near tombs, so as to act as dining rooms for the funerary banquets which appear to have been an essential ritual in burying and commemorating the dead.

Written Oct 2, 2010

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Djin Blocks and Obelisk Tomb
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 3860 reviews
Djin Blocks
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Before the entrance of Al-Siq or narrow defile, the first monuments one sees are three massive Djin blocks. There are about 40 such monuments to be found in Petra. Their significance is as yet uncertain. They are generally thought to have been an early form of Nabataean tomb, though their proximity to running water may signify that they were related to the worship of water, bearer of fertility.

Opposite the Djin blocks are two monuments, the Obelisk Tomb and the Bab Al-Siq Triclinium, which stands below it. Although they are found in close proximity to one another, they appear to be unrelated, dating from various periods and standing on a slightly different axis. The Obelisk Tomb takes its name from the four Obelisks which decorate its upper storey.

The Obelisk was a common Nabataean funerary symbol and clearly demonstrates Egyptian influence. An inscription in both Greek and Nabataean to be found opposite it, refers to a family tomb built by Abdmank which may well be the Obelisk tomb itself.

Written Oct 2, 2010

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The Siq

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Q:  I am visiting Israel in May and want to visit Petra. My idea was to arrive in Eilat from Jerusalem, take the bus to the border,... 

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