The Palace Monument

The Palace monument is one of the most prominent monuments in Petra, sculpted out of the western slope of the Jabal al-Hubta rock massif, overlooking the city center. It is so named because its exterior is believed to resemble the façade of a palace from the Roman era, hence its name. This monument is a grandiose five-story façade (49 m wide and approx. 46 m high). Five doors on the first lower level are crowned with triangular or semi-circular gables and framed by engaged columns. Four internal chambers are accessible through the doors. A narrow passage connects the two central ones. On the second level, there are 18 columns that support the third storey, which was partially built with ashlar blocks. The fourth and fifth storeys are adorned with short pilasters and are partially damaged by erosion. A dam and a water reservoir behind the monument drain rainwater to a pool cut to the north of the monument podium. The monument was probably used for banqueting or funerary ceremonies. The Palace Tomb was probably built toward the end of the first century AD, or the early 2nd century AD.


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