Why did the Nabataeans choose this area in which to settle?
This region of modern day Jordan was located between the source of frankincense, myrrh, and other commodities of Yemen and the Mediterranean cultures to whom these luxury goods were sold. The city of Petra was settled and grew due to its proximity to several springs and oases and its exceptional natural defenses. The Nabataeans, whose time in the deserts of Arabia taught them to be expert hydraulic engineers, were able to harness these underground water sources using a complex system of aqueducts and cisterns to support a city of some tens of thousands. Further, the city was located in a natural basin with high, vertical walls and one long, narrow ravine, known as the Siq (pronounced “seek”), serving as the only entry. This made Petra nearly invulnerable to attack from neighboring powers.
