Byzantine Church, Petra

Ruins of the Petra Church. Photo Richard White.

Exploring the sheltered ruins. Photo Richard White.

Beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaic. Photo Richard White.

Location map and aerial view of the Petra Church. For a larger
view see our Petra Map or get our free Google Earth download.

The Petra Church is a Byzantine church in the ancient city of Petra, located a few hundred meters off the colonnaded street near the Temple of the Winged Lions.

History

The Petra Church seems to have first been built over Nabataean and Roman remains around 450 AD. It may have been a major 5th- and 6th-century cathedral, which is intriguing given the other evidence of Petra's decline after a 363 AD earthquake.

When first constructed around 450, the church had only one apse and an entrance porch. The Mosaic of the Seasons in the southern aisle is from this period.

In 500-50 AD, the church was remodeled. Two side apses were installed and the two-story atrium built. The nave was paved and the chancel screens, a pulpit, and wall mosaics were installed, as were the mosaics of the northern aisle and the eastern end of the southern aisle.

Around 600 AD, a second remodeling may have been in progress when the church suffered a major fire, and it stood derelict until it was finally destroyed by earthquakes.

The Petra Church was discovered by Kenneth W. Russell in 1990, who passed away in 1992. The site was excavated in 1992-98 by the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In December 1993, 152 papyrus scrolls were uncovered inside the church. The scrolls, which constitute the largest group of written material from antiquity found in Jordan, were carbonized due to the early 7th-century fire and are still being deciphered. The scrolls are the records of one extended family and provide a glimpse into life in late-era Petra. Among the documents is a will dividing property among three brothers; the property included vineyards and slaves.

What to See

The Petra Church is currently being excavated and preserved and a protective tent covers the roofless walls. It is a three-aisled basilica, about 26 meters by 15 meters, with three apses on the east end and three west portals. The materials used to constuct the church, including the capitals, door jambs, and reliefs, must have come from the ruined monuments of the Nabataean and Roman periods.

Each of the side aisles of Petra Church is paved with 70 square meters of remarkably preserved mosaics, whose subjects include a variety of animals (local, exotic and mythological) and personifications of the Seasons, Ocean, Earth and Wisdom. Also surviving are significant remains of the nave's pavement, with marble and stone geometric designs.

There is an atrium and a bapistery to the west of the nave. The latter dates from the mid-5th century and is one of the largest and best preserved in the entire Near East.

Article Sources

Informational signs at the site
Petra - Official Website of King Hussein
"Queen Noor inaugurates the Petra Church Project" - official website of Queen Noor
"Archaeologists to speak at Calvin as part of Petra" - Calvin College Experience Petra
"The Byzantine church officially opens" - U.S. Mission to Jordan

Travel Resources

Petra Map - our interactive aerial map helps you get your bearings
Petra Hostels & Budget Hotels - book budget accommodation
Petra Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews and ratings from fellow travelers
Petra Travel Forum - get tips, advice and answers before you go
Petra Guided Tours - choose from various guided tours of Petra and book ahead of time