Al-Khazneh (Treasury)

Al-Khazneh (“The Treasury”) is Petra’s iconic rock-cut monument, carved into sandstone by the Nabataeans in the 1st century CE. Despite its nickname, it was likely a royal tomb, not an actual treasury. The façade (~39 m tall) blends classical and local design: six columns and a broken pediment with a central tholos (circular shrine) – features inspired by Hellenistic Alexandria. The facade is adorned with mythological figures (such as dancing Amazons and the twin gods Castor and Pollux), reflecting a blend of Greek and Nabataean artistic traditions.