Petra is an archaeological site built between 800 BC and 100AD. It is famous for its beautiful structures carved into the walls of the towering desert cliffs. Archaeologists believe Petra was once the capital of the Nabataeans, an ancient Arbaic trading people. Petra reached its peak in the first century after it was absorbed into the Roman Empire. However, it fell into disuse sometime in the 4th century after an earthquake destroyed many of the structures, as well as dams, water conduits, and cisterns that controlled its water supply. It was re-discovered in 1812 by Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

Although the ancient ruins include over 800 temples and tombs ,Petra's most noted structure is referred to as Al Khazneh, or, "The Treasury". Carved out of sandstone, Al Khazneh is the most elaborate of the structures. It is called "The Treasury" because ancient peoples believed an urn on top of the structure contained great riches. The structure itself was most likely a temple. It was featured in the famous movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Today, Petra is by far the most popular tourist attraction in Jordan.