Al-Khazneh (Arabic:الخزنة;IPA:[al.xaz.na], "The Treasury"), also known asKhaznat el-Far'oun (treasury of the pharaoh),[1] is one of the most elaborate rock-cut tombs inPetra, a city of theNabatean Kingdom inhabited by theArabs in ancient times. As with most of the other buildings in this ancient town, including the Monastery (Arabic:Ad Deir), this structure was carved out of a sandstone rock face.
It is thought that Al-Khazneh was built as a mausoleum and crypt at the beginning of the 1st century AD during the reign ofAretas IV Philopatris.[2][3]
It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in bothJordan and the region.
Al-Khazneh means "The Treasury" inArabic, a name derived from legends regarding the decorative stoneurn high on the second level, which in reality is solidsandstone.[1] It came to be called "Al-Khazneh" in the early 19th century by the area'sBedouins as they had believed it contained treasures.[citation needed]
One legend is that theEgyptianPharaoh and some of his armies escaped the closing of the Red Sea, created the Khazneh by magic as a safe place for his treasury, and continued in his pursuit ofMoses.[1] This led to the name Khaznat el-Far'oun, "Treasury of the Pharaoh".[1] Significant damage from bullets can be seen on the urn, which the Jordanian government attributes toBedouins who believed the legend.[4]
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Al-Khazneh (the treasury), Petra. Many of the building's architectural details have eroded during the two millennia since it was carved and sculpted from the cliff. The sculptures are thought to be those of various mythological figures associated with the afterlife.[5] On top are figures of four eagles that would carry away the souls. The figures on the upper level are dancingAmazons with double axes. The entrance is flanked by statues of the twinsCastor and Pollux who lived partly onOlympus and partly in theunderworld.
In contrast to the elaborate façade, the interior comprises a plain main chamber and three antechambers with an interior volume of around 2,000 m3 (71,000 cu ft).[6]
In 1812, the city of Petra and Al-Khazneh were noted by Swiss explorer Burckhardt. As Western Europe continued to explore the Middle East, tourism became more common, and by the 1920s, a small hotel had opened near Petra. While Petra was not as popular as larger, more central cities, like Cairo, tourism started changing the economy and social structure of the nearby Bedouin people.[7]
Tourism is now a significant source of income in Jordan, comprising around 20% of the GDP.[8] Hotels, souvenir shops, restaurants, and horse rental services are all found within a few-mile radius of Petra itself. While the economic effects have been largely positive, the site faces threats from increased tourism.
Humidity from large crowds of people visiting the site can cause damage to the dry sandstone. White spots have appeared on walls and columns fromstearic acid deposition due to hands resting against the walls. The Khazneh surface has receded by 40 mm in less than ten years from touching, leaning, or rubbing on the walls.[8]
The Treasury has appeared in many Hollywood films, gaining particular fame after being featured in climactic scenes in the1989 filmIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade, in which its façade is represented as the entrance to the final resting place of theHoly Grail. The interior scenes of the temple were filmed atElstree Studios in England.
PBS's Nova SpecialLost City of Stone andAncient Megastructures: Petra, television series fromPBS andNational Geographic, were dedicated to the Khazneh, and the theories of Nabatean construction techniques and engineering.
Al-Khazneh features prominently inFrank Herbert's Dune, a 2000 SciFi miniseries based on the novel.
The Treasury is also depicted inHergé'sThe Red Sea Sharks, one of theAdventures of Tintin,Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger,Sky 1 travel seriesAn Idiot Abroad,The Sisters of Mercy 1988 music video for "Dominion", the history seriesThe Naked Archeologist, the Korean dramaMisaeng, the video gameOverwatch, andMortal Kombat Annihilation. In the 2007 video gameAssassin's Creed, the relief whereAltaïr Ibn-La'Ahad confrontsRobert de Sable in theJerusalem Vault is modeled after The Treasury.
The Treasury was spatially documented in 2012 by the non-profit research groupZamani Project, which specializes in 3Ddigital documentation of tangible cultural heritage. A 3D model can be viewed at zamaniproject.org.[9] The data generated by the Zamani Project create a permanent record that can be used for research, education, restoration and conservation.[10][11][12][9]
Its elaborately carved facade is alive with a cast of Nabataean deities and mythological characters ... All are funerary symbols.
Media related toAl Khazneh at Wikimedia Commons
30°19′21″N35°27′06″E / 30.32245°N 35.451617°E /30.32245; 35.451617
