The aqueducts (10)

The Siq, the natural gorge forming the main access to Petra in Jordan, was lined along its entire length with a sophisticated Nabataean hydraulic system. Channels cut into the rock, supplemented by terracotta pipes along certain sections, carried drinking water from the springs of Wadi Musa into the heart of the city, while retention dams built into five side gorges protected the passage from sudden flash floods along the Wadi Musa. This system, among the most advanced in the ancient world for water management in a desert setting, allowed the Nabataeans to secure the supply of a thriving city despite an arid climate. Remains of these channels are still visible today along the walls of the gorge. 

The Obelisk Tomb (9)

The Obelisk Tomb is a Nabataean monument located in the Bab as-Siq area, at the entrance to the Petra site in Jordan. Built in the first century CE, it consists of two superimposed levels: on the upper level, four tapering pyramids known as "nefesh," a motif symbolizing the soul of the deceased, flank a central niche holding a draped figure; on the lower level, a triclinium with a Doric facade served as a funerary banquet hall in honor of the dead. A Nabataean and Greek inscription, still visible, commemorates the tomb's construction by a man named Abdmanku for himself and his descendants. This distinctive monument, blending local funerary traditions with Hellenistic influences, marks one of the first architectural landmarks encountered before entering the Siq. 

The sculptures of the caravaners (6)

Halfway through the Siq, at Petra in Jordan, the eroded remains of a monumental sculpture depicting a caravan scene still survive: two camel drivers, dressed in pleated tunics, each lead two dromedaries while leaning on long staffs, facing each other across a ravine where a seasonal torrent once flowed, regarded by the Nabataeans as a sign of divine presence. Uncovered in 1997 from the thick layer of silt that had buried it, this life-size sculpture testifies to the Siq's role as a caravan route along the trade paths linking Arabia to the Mediterranean. A second, more worn depiction lies near the exit of the gorge, recalling the arrival of caravans at the gates of the Nabataean city. 

Votive niches (9)

Along the walls of the Siq, at Petra in Jordan, some seventy votive niches have been recorded, carved into the pink sandstone by the Nabataeans to hold baetyls, upright stones symbolizing their deities. The two gods most frequently represented are Dushara, the city's tutelary deity associated with fertility, and Al-Uzza, goddess of love and protection. Some baetyls bear stylized eyes and a schematic nose suggesting a face, while small hollows for incense offerings often accompany these niches. Several Greek inscriptions carved nearby record the names of donors. This sacred route marked the caravan travelers' journey with spiritual waypoints before their entry into the city.