Petra · 100 AD
What you're walking through
Around 100 AD, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, a caravan centre between Arabia, Egypt and Syria. Its sandstone mountains held monumental tombs, while houses and temples filled the valley. Channels, cisterns and dams gathered and carried water through the dry landscape.
The Siq, a narrow natural gorge, opened onto the elaborate façade now called the Treasury. Despite its name, it was probably a royal funerary monument. Beyond it, the city included a theatre cut into the hillside and the freestanding temple of Qasr al-Bint. Rome annexed the kingdom in 106 AD, a few years after this scene.
Who lives here
Nabataean townsman
A light robe · caravan trade brought goods from Arabia and beyond to Petra
Petra grew wealthy at the meeting of caravan routes. Traders, stoneworkers and the people who maintained its channels and cisterns helped the city thrive in a dry landscape.
Nabataean townswoman
A long dress · Petra was a living city as well as a landscape of monumental tombs
Behind Petra's famous carved façades lay a city of houses, shrines and gathering places. The figures here represent everyday inhabitants in simplified clothing.
Donkey
About 1.2 m at the shoulder · the pack animal of farms, roads and markets
Donkeys and mules carried firewood, grain and the farms' produce into town, and goods to and from the markets and harbours.
The Siq and the distances between landmarks are shortened substantially. Cliff profiles, houses and tomb interiors are invented; façade ornaments are simplified. The Treasury's exact date and occupant remain uncertain. Later Roman paving, monumental additions and Byzantine buildings are omitted. People and clothing are stylized approximations.
How to walk
Press Start walking above. WA SD or the arrow keys move you, the mouse looks around, hold Shift with a movement key to run at 3× walking speed, and Space jumps. Look at someone to see who they are. Esc pauses, and M turns the sound on or off. You're invisible: nobody here can see you.
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