Urn Tomb

The Urn Tomb is a rock-cut burial monument in Petra featuring a grand carved facade and multiple chambers beneath it. The interior opens into a columned courtyard where burial spaces line the stone walls in carefully arranged niches.

This burial site was built around 70 CE during the Nabataean period as a royal tomb for a king. In later centuries, it was converted into a Christian place of worship, serving religious purposes for different communities.

The name comes from a large carved urn that sits above the main entrance and once captured visitors' imaginations. Today, people walking through notice the layered history visible in the chamber, where different periods left their marks on the stone.

Reaching this site means climbing steep stone steps built into the cliff face. A Petra entrance ticket is required, and visiting early in the day offers a quieter experience with better light for looking at the carved details.

The main chamber contains a large rectangular hollow that visitors often puzzle over, with its true purpose still unknown despite centuries of study. This mysterious feature reminds people that many details about life in ancient times remain unexplained.

Location: Al-Betrā'

Inception: 1 century

Part of: Petra

GPS coordinates: 30.32755,35.44926

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:22