“The stone urn atop Petra's Treasury is pocked with bullet holes from Bedouin who believed it held a pharaoh's hidden gold.”
About The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
The Treasury was carved into the cliff in the 1st century AD, most likely as the mausoleum of a Nabataean king, by a people who grew rich controlling the incense and spice trade routes. Its name and the bullet-scarred urn come from a later Bedouin belief that it concealed treasure. Rediscovered for the wider world in 1812, it became the emblem of Petra and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
The Treasury, or Al-Khazneh, is the most famous monument in Petra and one of the most recognisable archaeological sites in the world, an ornate facade nearly 40 metres high carved directly into a rose-coloured sandstone cliff. Reached at the dramatic end of the narrow Siq gorge, it bursts into view as the iconic first sight of the ancient Nabataean city.
Reached at the dramatic end of the narrow Siq gorge, it bursts into view as the iconic first sight of the ancient Nabataean city.
Bullet Holes and a Pharaoh's Gold
Despite its name, the Treasury was almost certainly a royal tomb or temple, carved in the 1st century by the Nabataeans. Its nickname comes from a Bedouin legend that a pharaoh hid treasure in the great stone urn at the top of the facade. For generations, hopeful treasure-hunters fired guns at the urn trying to break it open and release the gold, and the bullet marks are still visible on the carved stone today.
The Experience
Following the long, shadowy Siq until, through a final narrow gap, the sunlit Treasury facade is suddenly revealed, an unforgettable reveal that is one of travel's great moments. Up close you admire the carved columns, figures and the bullet-marked urn, often with Bedouin and camels in the foreground. It is busiest mid-morning; quieter and beautifully lit early or late, and magical when illuminated by candles at night.
Why It Matters
The Treasury is the symbol of Petra and of Jordan itself, a masterpiece of Nabataean rock-cut architecture and one of the most iconic monuments on the planet. Its dramatic setting, intricate carving and legends make it the centrepiece of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a New Seven Wonders of the World.
The Treasury is the symbol of Petra and of Jordan itself, a masterpiece of Nabataean rock-cut architecture and one of the most iconic monuments on the planet.
Why Visit
The iconic monument of Petra, a 40-metre facade carved into rose sandstone and revealed dramatically at the end of the Siq, the symbol of Jordan.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Arrive early for soft light and far fewer crowds.
- 2
Look up at the bullet-scarred urn at the top of the facade.
- 3
Consider the candlelit Petra by Night experience.
- 4
Do not believe the touts; the camel and donkey rides are optional.
