More than 2,000 years ago, the thriving city of Petra rose up in the bone-dry desert of what is now Jordan.
An oasis of culture and abundance, the city was built by wealthy merchants who carved spectacular temple-tombs into its cliffs, raised a monumental Great Temple and devised an ingenious system that channeled water to vineyards, bathhouses, fountains and pools.
But following a catastrophic earthquake and a slump in its desert trade routes, Petra’s unique culture faded and was lost to most of the world for nearly 1,000 years.
Now, in a daring experiment, an archaeologist and sculptors team up to carve an iconic temple-tomb to find out how the ancient people of Petra built their city of stone.
This episode is the second in a BUILDING WONDERS series from NOVA. "Hagia Sophia: Istanbul's Mystery," and "Colosseum - Roman Death Trap" premiered in 2015.
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Credits:
A NOVA production for WGBH Boston.
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS’ premier science series. With compelling stories and spectacular visuals, NOVA programs demystify science and technology for viewers of all ages and spotlight people involved in scientific pursuits.
