- 1. Petra, the ancient city carved into rose-red cliffs, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world, located in present-day Jordan. Often referred to as the 'Rose City' because of the color of the stone from which it is hewn, Petra was once a thriving trade hub in the Nabataean Kingdom, flourishing from the 4th century BC until the 2nd century AD. The city is renowned for its striking rock-cut architecture and sophisticated water conduit system, showcasing the ingenuity of its creators. Visitors are greeted by the iconic Al-Khazneh, or 'The Treasury', a majestic temple façade that towers over the narrow canyon called the Siq, which serves as the main entrance to the city. Petra's extensive ruins include a complex of tombs, a large amphitheater, and remnants of homes and public buildings, all telling the story of a society that mastered the art of living in a harsh desert environment. This UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, eager to explore its more than 2,000-year-old history, stunning landscapes, and the enduring legacy of the Nabataeans, whose culture blended influences from the Arabian, Greco-Roman, and Eastern civilizations. Today, Petra stands not only as a testament to the ingenuity of human architecture but also as a symbol of the rich and intricate history of the ancient world.
What is Petra originally known as?
A) The Rock City
B) Raqmu
C) Wadi Musa
D) Silk Road
- 2. In which country is Petra located?
A) Syria
B) Jordan
C) Saudi Arabia
D) Egypt
- 3. What famous structure is the most iconic symbol of Petra?
A) The Great Temple
B) The Royal Tombs
C) The Monastery
D) Al-Khazneh (The Treasury)
- 4. When was Petra designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A) 2000
B) 1990
C) 1985
D) 1978
- 5. What does the name 'Petra' mean in Greek?
A) City
B) Desert
C) Rock
D) Fortress
- 6. Which ancient trade route passed through Petra?
A) caravan Route
B) Silk Road
C) Spice Route
D) Incense Route
- 7. Who rediscovered Petra for the western world?
A) William Robinson
B) David Livingstone
C) Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
D) Thesiger
- 8. What type of rock is predominantly found in Petra?
A) Limestone
B) Basalt
C) Sandstone
D) Marble
- 9. What symbolizes Petra's connection to trade?
A) Caravans
B) Ships
C) Aeroplanes
D) Trains
- 10. What type of climate does Petra have?
A) Desert climate
B) Polar climate
C) Tropical climate
D) Temperate climate
- 11. How did the Nabateans primarily gather water in Petra?
A) Rainwater harvesting
B) Underground wells
C) Aqueducts from the sea
D) River diversion
A) A narrow canyon leading to Petra
B) A local dish
C) An ancient trade route
D) A type of stone
- 13. What architectural style is prevalent in Petra?
A) Gothic
B) Baroque
C) Hellenistic
D) Renaissance
- 14. What was Petra's primary function in ancient times?
A) Mining site
B) Agricultural hub
C) Trade center
D) Military base
- 15. What is Petra known for?
A) Modern skyscrapers
B) Industrial factories
C) Ancient rock-cut architecture
D) Lush gardens
- 16. What is the main entrance to Petra called?
A) The Path
B) The Valley
C) The Gate
D) The Siq
- 17. What do the rock formations in Petra offer?
A) Natural beauty
B) Urban structure
C) Tropical scenery
D) Waterfalls
- 18. What is Al-Deir commonly referred to as?
A) The Colonnade
B) The Citadel
C) The Monastery
D) The Treasury
- 19. What natural occurrence poses a threat to Petra?
A) Earthquakes
B) Volcanic eruptions
C) Tsunamis
D) Flash floods
- 20. What is the height of the Monastery in Petra?
A) 45 meters
B) 60 meters
C) 30 meters
D) 75 meters
- 21. Which flora is common in Petra?
A) Tropical trees
B) Deciduous trees
C) Various desert plants
D) Coniferous trees
- 22. What is the primary color of the rock formations in Petra?
A) Red
B) Gray
C) White
D) Black
- 23. What year was Petra rediscovered by the Western world?
A) 1776
B) 1600
C) 1812
D) 1492
- 24. Which of these is a major architectural feature of Petra?
A) Concrete ruins
B) Rock-cut facades
C) Steel buildings
D) Wooden structures
- 25. What event occurs annually in Petra?
A) Day of the Dead
B) Midsummer Festival
C) Winter Wonderland
D) Petra by Night
- 26. In which century did the Nabataeans settle Petra?
A) 1st century AD
B) 7th century BC
C) 4th century BC
D) 2nd century BC
- 27. What is Petra famously known as due to its sandstone color?
A) The Rose City
B) The Golden City
C) The Red City
D) The White City
- 28. When did Nabataea fall to the Romans?
A) 1st century AD
B) 106 AD
C) 363 AD
D) 4th century BC
- 29. What natural disaster contributed to Petra's decline in the 4th century?
A) A volcanic eruption
B) A drought
C) A flood
D) An earthquake
- 30. Which empire annexed and renamed Nabataea as Arabia Petraea?
A) The Byzantine Empire
B) The Ottoman Empire
C) The Roman Empire
D) The Persian Empire
- 31. What is one of the skills the Nabataeans were particularly known for?
A) Stone carving
B) Metalworking
C) Pottery making
D) Weaving
- 32. How many inhabitants did Petra have at its peak in the 1st century AD?
A) 20,000
B) 10,000
C) 100,000
D) 50,000
- 33. What was Petra's role in relation to the Edomites during the Iron Age?
A) An agricultural center
B) A stopping point for merchants
C) A religious site
D) A military stronghold
- 34. What did UNESCO describe Petra as?
A) The largest archaeological site in Jordan
B) A natural wonder of the world
C) The oldest city in the world
D) One of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage
- 35. What is Petra's status among the New 7 Wonders of the World?
A) It was disqualified
B) It is one of them
C) It is not on the list
D) It was never considered
- 36. What was Petra's estimated population peak during its flourishing period?
A) 10,000 inhabitants
B) 50,000 inhabitants
C) 100,000 inhabitants
D) 20,000 inhabitants
- 37. Which century did the Nabataeans make Petra their capital city?
A) Fourth century BC
B) Third century BC
C) First century AD
D) Second century BC
- 38. What is the Nabataean name for Petra?
A) Raqēmō
B) Garshu
C) Sela
D) Rekem
- 39. Which historian wrote about Rekeme being called Petra by the Greeks?
A) Eusebius
B) Antigonus
C) Diodorus Siculus
D) Josephus
- 40. Which ancient historian's work is associated with identifying Rekem as Petra?
A) Josephus
B) Diodorus Siculus
C) Eusebius
D) Antigonus
- 41. What was the original cultural influence on the Nabataeans before they were identified as a northern Arabian tribe?
A) Greek culture
B) Egyptian culture
C) Aramaic culture
D) Roman culture
- 42. What was found by workmen in 1964 at the entrance to Petra's gorge?
A) Funerary inscriptions in Nabatean script
B) A map of ancient trade routes
C) Statues of Nabataean gods
D) Gold coins from the Roman Empire
- 43. Who was the governor of Roman Syria when the Arabian Peninsula under the rule of Petra was absorbed into the Roman Empire?
A) Septimius Severus
B) Sextius Florentinus
C) Trajan
D) Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus
- 44. Which road was built by Trajan between 111 and 114?
A) Pax Romana Route
B) Via Traiana Nova
C) Petra Roman Road
D) Nabataean Caravan Path
- 45. Which deity was honored with a feast on December 25 in Petra during Epiphanius of Salamis's time?
A) Allat
B) Dushara
C) al-Uzza
D) The virgin Khaabou
- 46. Which Byzantine emperor's reign is associated with the Madaba Map that lacks a section for Petra?
A) Justinian I
B) Constantine I
C) Arcadius
D) Theodosius II
- 47. Which emperor visited Petra and did not lead to a development boom?
A) Septimius Severus
B) Trajan
C) Elagabalus
D) Hadrian
- 48. Which Roman emperor's coins were found in Nabataean tombs?
A) Hadrian
B) Septimius Severus
C) Elagabalus
D) Trajan
- 49. What was the function of Petra's bishopric transferred to before 687?
A) Areopolis
B) Jerash
C) Sinai Peninsula
D) Negev
- 50. Who built fortresses such as Alwaeira Castle in the 12th century?
A) The Crusaders
B) The Byzantines
C) The Mamluks
D) The Bedouins
- 51. Which castle was seized by a band of Turks with the help of local Muslims?
A) El-Habis
B) Al-Wu'ayra
C) Alwaeira
D) Qasr al-Bint
- 52. Who was one of the first Mamluk sultans to visit Petra during the Middle Ages?
A) Baibars
B) Al-Malik al-Kamil
C) Nur ad-Din
D) Saladin
- 53. Who made the first accurate drawings of Petra in 1828?
A) Léon de Laborde and Louis-Maurice-Adolphe Linant de Bellefonds
B) Frederic Edwin Church
C) Agnes Conway
D) David Roberts
- 54. Which publication featured photographs of Petra by Missionary Archibald Forder in 1909?
A) Petra Journal
B) The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia
C) Traveler's Digest
D) National Geographic
- 55. In which decade were the Bedul Bedouin relocated by the Jordanian government?
A) 1990s
B) 1980s
C) 1960s
D) 1970s
- 56. What event affected Petra in December 2022?
A) Heavy flooding
B) Earthquake
C) Tsunami
D) Sandstorm
- 57. Which mountain is adjacent to Petra?
A) Mount Kilimanjaro
B) Jabal Al-Madbah
C) Mount Everest
D) Mount Sinai
- 58. What geographical feature forms the eastern flank of the Arabah valley near Petra?
A) Rivers
B) Mountains
C) Plains
D) Deserts
- 59. What is the name of the mountain associated with Aaron's Tomb?
A) Mount Nebo
B) Mount Zion
C) Mount Sinai
D) Jabal Haroun
- 60. From which direction do most modern visitors approach Petra today?
A) The west
B) The east
C) The south
D) The north
- 61. What figure is believed to be depicted on the tholos of the Treasury?
A) Hera
B) Isis-Tyche
C) Artemis
D) Athena
- 62. What was the original purpose of the space outside Petra's Monastery?
A) Market area
B) Worship purposes
C) Theatre performances
D) Gladiator fights
- 63. During which period was the area near Petra's Monastery used for Christian worship?
A) Hellenistic period
B) Roman period
C) Nabataean period
D) Byzantine period
- 64. How many people could the theatre in Petra hold?
A) 45 meters tall
B) Around 8,500 people
C) 50 meters wide
D) 24 meters wide
- 65. What was the original purpose of Colonnaded Street in Petra?
A) A religious site
B) A residential area
C) A theatre
D) A market area
- 66. What feature once stood at Colonnaded Street that is now in ruins?
A) A semi-circle nymphaeum
B) A large swimming pool
C) An island-pavilion
D) A theatre
- 67. Where is the High Place of Sacrifice located?
A) Outside the main area of the city
B) Atop Jebel Madbah Mountain
C) In the Nabatean version of Hellenistic architecture
D) Near Petra's theatre
- 68. Which tomb in Petra is speculated to be for the kings?
A) The Silk Tomb
B) The Urn Tomb
C) The Corinthian Tomb
D) The Palace Tomb
- 69. Which tomb was converted into a church in 446 AD?
A) The Silk Tomb
B) The Urn Tomb
C) The Palace Tomb
D) The Corinthian Tomb
- 70. What is the primary male god in Nabataean religion?
A) Musa
B) Aaron
C) Harun
D) Dushara
- 71. What was one of the first actions taken by PETA regarding working animals in Petra?
A) Building a veterinary clinic.
B) Petitioning for stricter laws.
C) Organizing protests at the site.
D) Releasing a video highlighting animal abuse.
- 72. In which year did John William Burgon win Oxford University's Newdigate Prize for his poem 'Petra'?
A) 1958
B) 1845
C) 2014
D) 1977
- 73. Which novel by Agatha Christie features Petra prominently?
A) Bartleby
B) Last Act in Palmyra
C) The Eagle in the Sand
D) Appointment with Death
- 74. Who married Mohammed Abdullah, a Bedouin in Petra?
A) Joan Ward
B) Meir Har-Zion
C) Agatha Christie
D) Marguerite van Geldermalsen
- 75. In which video game does a fictionalized version of Petra appear as a playable arena?
A) Overwatch
B) Civilization V
C) Mortal Kombat Annihilation
D) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- 76. Who wrote the lyrics for the ballad 'HaSela haAdom' about a fatal trip to Petra?
A) Joan Ward
B) Meir Har-Zion
C) John Yarbrough
D) Haim Hefer
- 77. In which year did John Yarbrough's play 'Petra' debut at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre?
A) 2014
B) 2004
C) 2015
D) 1979
- 78. Which novel by Blue Balliett features a character named after Petra?
A) Appointment with Death
B) Chasing Vermeer
C) Bartleby
D) The Moon Goddess and the Son
- 79. Which documentary examined Petra using laser scanning technology?
A) Petra: Lost City of Stone
B) Time Scanners
C) Jinn
D) Living with Arabs: Nine Years with the Petra Bedouin
- 80. Which Civilization game first included Petra?
A) Mortal Kombat Annihilation
B) Overwatch
C) Civilization VI
D) Civilization V
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