Trail of Origins (Jordan, Petra)

In Petra , the ancient capital of the Nabataeans , stairways carved into the sandstone like this one connect the different levels of the cave city, from the royal tombs to the hidden sanctuaries. This type of narrow path is called a secondary siq , unlike the 1.2 km long main siq that leads to the Khazneh.

The pink sandstone of Petra , formed about 540 million years ago , exhibits natural stratification due to the presence of iron oxides, manganese, and other minerals, giving the rock its red, orange, and purple hues. This coloration is not just aesthetic: it indicates the geological history of the formation of the Edom Mountains .

The steps visible here were probably dug between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD , when the city reached its peak, housing up to 25,000 inhabitants . They were used to access areas of worship or living space, often invisible to modern visitors focused on the more well-known monuments.

Secondary Siq, archaeological site of Petra (UNESCO)