English (UK) 
Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) Watch this video and don't hesitate to read the commentary on the troglodyte city and the amazing cliffs of Little Petra in Jordan.
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip Jordan (EN)
A click on this icon above displays the list of chapters of this film about Jordan. A click on a dot goes directly to a chapter.
Reading the text below will help you better understand the historical context of the sites shown in this video.
Chapters:
00:44 • Walk in Little Petra
02:49 • Musician: rebab player
03:56 • The amazing cliffs of Little Petra
Troglodyte cities
Troglodyte cities are always fascinating. Whether it is the carved cliffs of Cappadocia in Turkey, with their astonishing Byzantine churches carved into the rock or the Buddhist temples of the beginning of our era in central India, in Ellora or Ajanta, all these places remain steeped in mystery. .
Who dug these cities and temples? Why? how did they do it?
Petra
The site of Petra in Jordan is certainly one of the best known. And its builders, whose empire reached its peak in the time of Jesus Christ, the Nabataeans, continue to intrigue historians. This site is huge and includes a multitude of temples and a large necropolis.
Little Petra
If Petra was a big city, capital of the Nabataean empire, it seems that its little sister located a few kilometers away, was a kind of suburb where the rich merchants who made the fortune of Petra could live in peace, far from the bustle. from the big neighboring town.
Very small compared to Petra, the Little Petra site is much less frequented by tourists. However, it presents magnificent examples of cave architecture of the time. If the monuments are less dazzling than the "Treasure" of Petra, they are nonetheless of great aesthetic and historical value.
And, as a visitor, it affords the incomparable luxury of being able to be seen apart from the intrusive crowds that characterize Petra.
Spoken comments in the film:
If Petra, a magnificent troglodyte site in Jordan is extremely lively and receives millions of tourists each year, Little Petra which is a few kilometers away also offers impressive monuments excavated in the rock, but in a more than appreciable calm.
A few kilometers from Petra in Jordan is another Nabataean site, much smaller than Petra. The site dates from the same period and also presents buildings excavated in the rock. Historians believe it was a suburb of Petra where wealthy merchants lived and enjoyed themselves.
Music:
- YouTube video library - A Fallen Cowboy
- YouTube video library - Desert Caravan
• Disclaimer: As traditional music is often subject to copyright (claimed by major music distribution groups), the musical illustration of this film "Little Petra • Jordan (EN)" partially uses typical music of Jordan and is partially borrowed from a collection of royalty-free music. Despite the painstaking care given to the musical choices in this film, some people may regret this choice, but it is the price to pay for not incurring unnecessary lawsuits. This decision was difficult to take, but it's the only viable solution, unfortunately. •
site entrance
cave dwellings
musician, rebab player
