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Petra - The Great Temple

The Great Temple of Petra The Great Temple of Petra

Wikipedia - CC BY-SA 3.0 - Bernard Gagnon


Introduction
Introduction

The Great Temple is one of the largest surviving structures of Petra and dominates the central urban landscape south of the Colonnaded Street. Conceived as a monumental architectural complex rather than a single freestanding building, it incorporated large courts, terraces, stairways, and columned spaces that reflect both Nabataean traditions and strong Hellenistic and Roman influences in design and scale.

Excavations have shown that the Great Temple functioned as a major civic and ceremonial focus within the city, closely integrated with surrounding streets, markets, and public spaces. Its size, prominent location, and architectural investment underscore its importance within Petra’s urban hierarchy and provide key insight into the city’s political, social, and architectural ambitions during its peak phases of development.

Petra - Introduction Webpage

Aerial Views, Plans, Drawings, Photos, and 3D Imagery
Aerial Views, Plans, Drawings, Photos, and 3D Imagery

Aerial Views

  • The Great Temple in Google Earth
    The Great Temple in Google Earth

    click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth
  • Fig. 1 - Aerial View of the
    Fig. 1

    Aerial view of the Petra Great Temple precinct at the close of the 2006 excavations, to south

    (Photograph by Artemis W. Joukowsky)



    Joukowsky (2015)
    Great Temple at Petra from Joukowsky (2015)

Plans

Site Plans

Normal Size

  • Fig. 2 - Site Plan of the
    Fig. 2

    Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

    Joukowsky (2009)
    Great Temple at Petra from Joukowsky (2009)
  • Site Plan of the Great Temple
    Plan of the Great Temple

    click on image to see a high res magnifiable version of this plan

    Marshall C. Agnew. - Martha Sharp Joukowsky. 2006 ADAJ Report. Exciting Developments: The Brown University 2006 Petra Great Temple Excavations - Wikipedia - CC BY-SA 4.0
    at Petra from Wikipedia

Magnified

  • Fig. 2 - Site Plan of the
    Fig. 2

    Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

    Joukowsky (2009)
    Great Temple at Petra from Joukowsky (2009)
  • Site Plan of the Great Temple
    Plan of the Great Temple

    click on image to see a high res magnifiable version of this plan

    Marshall C. Agnew. - Martha Sharp Joukowsky. 2006 ADAJ Report. Exciting Developments: The Brown University 2006 Petra Great Temple Excavations - Wikipedia - CC BY-SA 4.0
    at Petra from Wikipedia

Phase specific Plans

Normal Size

  • Fig. 2 - Phase II plan
    Fig. 2

    Great Temple plan, phase II

    (Marshall C. Agnew)

    Joukowsky (2009)
    from Joukowsky (2015)
  • Fig. 4 - Phase IV plan
    Fig. 4

    Great Temple plan, phase IV

    (Marshall C. Agnew)

    Joukowsky (2009)
    from Joukowsky (2015)
  • Fig. 12 - Phase V plan
    Fig. 12

    Plan of the theater-in the temple, site phase V



    Joukowsky (2015)
    from Joukowsky (2015)
  • Fig. 10 - Phase VI plan
    Fig. 10

    Roman-Byzantine baths, plan

    (Marshall C. Agnew and Eleanor Power)

    Joukowsky (2009)
    from Joukowsky (2015)

Magnified

  • Fig. 2 - Phase II plan
    Fig. 2

    Great Temple plan, phase II

    (Marshall C. Agnew)

    Joukowsky (2009)
    from Joukowsky (2015)
  • Fig. 4 - Phase IV plan
    Fig. 4

    Great Temple plan, phase IV

    (Marshall C. Agnew)

    Joukowsky (2009)
    from Joukowsky (2015)
  • Fig. 12 - Phase V plan
    Fig. 12

    Plan of the theater-in the temple, site phase V



    Joukowsky (2015)
    from Joukowsky (2015)
  • Fig. 10 - Phase VI plan
    Fig. 10

    Roman-Byzantine baths, plan

    (Marshall C. Agnew and Eleanor Power)

    Joukowsky (2009)
    from Joukowsky (2015)

Photos and Drawings

  • Fig. 5.17b - Photo of inner
    Fig. 5.17b

    Photo of Inner wall of the west corridor showing two phases of construction

    Rababeh (2005)
    wall of the west corridor showing two phases of construction from Rababeh (2005)
  • Fig. 5.17c - Drawing of inner
    Fig. 5.17c

    Detailed drawing of Inner wall of the west corridor showing two phases of construction

    Rababeh (2005)
    wall of the west corridor showing two phases of construction from Rababeh (2005)

Links to 3D Images

3D image of The Great Temple from Zamani Project - click link to open in a new tab

3D panorama tour of The Great Temple from Zamani Project - click link to open in a new tab

Archaeoseismic Chronology
Phasing

The Great Temple of Petra Phasing Figure 3

Petra Great Temple Chronological Chart of Site Phases.

Joukowsky (2009)

Phase IV Earthquake - 1st half of the 2nd century CE

Discussion

Discussion

Phase IX Earthquake - 4th century CE

Discussion

Discussion

Phase XI Earthquake - 6th century CE

Discussion

Discussion

Phase XIII Collapses - Later Earthquakes ?

Discussion

Discussion

Archaeoseismic Effects
Phase IV Earthquake - 1st half of the 2nd century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description
Displaced Walls propylaea stairs
between A & B
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
minor collapse when the uppermost course of the propylaea stairs was built - Joukowsky and Basile (2001)
Displaced Walls Propylaeum West
A
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
Damage to Propylaeum West - Joukowsky (2009)
Displaced Walls ? Lower Temenos
Q
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
Repairs to Lower Temenos - Joukowsky (2009)
Collapsed Walls Baroque Room
I
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
Baroque Room Collapse - Joukowsky (2009)

Phase IX Earthquake - 4th century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description
Displaced Walls Propylaeum
A & B
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Collapse of the Propylaeum - Joukowsky (2009)
Fallen Columns Lower Temenos West Triple Collonade
between C & D
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Collapse of the Lower Temenos West Triple Collonade - Joukowsky (2009)
Collapsed Vaults West Cryptoporticus
D
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
West Cryptoporticus Collapse - Joukowsky (2009)

Phase XI Earthquake - 6th century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description
Collapsed Walls ? site wide ?
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Further Collapse - Joukowsky (2009)
Fallen Columns East Triple Collonade
P
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
East Triple Collonade Collapse - Joukowsky (2009)
Folded Step and kerbs West Entry Stairs
C
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
West Entry Stairs Collapse - Joukowsky (2009)
Fallen Columns Temple East Porch Column
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Temple East Porch Column Collapse - Joukowsky (2009)

Phase XIII Collapses - Later Earthquakes ?

Effect Location Image(s) Description
Collapsed Walls ? not specified Series of Major Collapses in the Islamic Period - Joukowsky (2009)

Archaeoseismic Observations
Archaeoseismic Observations

Korzhenkov et al (2016)

Effect Location Image Description
Through-going fracture
Figure 4c

through-going cracks in the Great Temple of Petra, piercing several stone blocks. For them to occur, a huge amount of energy must be released.

Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Through-going fractures require a large amount of energy to overcome the stress shadows between blocks - paraphrased from a translation of Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Column Damage
Figure 5a

Roman columns of the Great Temple damaged during the earthquake, reinforced by an additional wall

Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Columns damaged in an earthquake and reinforced with an intervening wall - paraphrased from a translation of Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Re-used building elements
Figure 5b

Stone “drums” from columns destroyed during an early earthquake in a later temple

Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Column drum in the wall was damaged in an earthquake and then re-used as a building element during reconstruction - paraphrased from a translation of Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Fallen Column
Figure 7

Destroyed column of the Great Temple. Considering that they were not dismantled, it is obvious that the destruction occurred after the earthquake of 632 and the occupation of the territory by the Arabs

Korzhenkov et al (2016)
Because the column was not dismantled and re-used as a building element, it's collapse is thought to be due to one of the later earthquakes when Petra was largely abandoned (JW:Korzhenkov's date for this collapse is pure speculation) - paraphrased from a translation of Korzhenkov et al (2016)

Archaeoseismic Deformation Maps
Phase IV Earthquake - 1st half of the 2nd century CE

Deformation Map

modified by JW from Fig. 2 of Joukowsky (2009)

Phase IX Earthquake - 4th century CE

Deformation Map

modified by JW from Fig. 2 of Joukowsky (2009)

Phase XI Earthquake - 6th century CE

Deformation Map

modified by JW from Fig. 2 of Joukowsky (2009)

Archaeoseismic Intensity Estimates
Phase IV Earthquake - 1st half of the 2nd century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description Intensity
Displaced Walls             propylaea stairs
between A & B
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
minor collapse when the uppermost course of the propylaea stairs was built - Joukowsky and Basile (2001) VII+
Displaced Walls Propylaeum West
A
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
Damage to Propylaeum West - Joukowsky (2009) VII+
Displaced Walls ? Lower Temenos
Q
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
Repairs to Lower Temenos - Joukowsky (2009) VII+
Collapsed Walls Baroque Room
I
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Fig. 4

Great Temple plan, phase IV

(Marshall C. Agnew)

Joukowsky (2009)
Baroque Room Collapse - Joukowsky (2009) VIII+
The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013:221-224).

Phase IX Earthquake - 4th century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description Intensity
Displaced Walls Propylaeum
A & B
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Collapse of the Propylaeum - Joukowsky (2009) VII+
Fallen Columns Lower Temenos West Triple Collonade
between C & D
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Collapse of the Lower Temenos West Triple Collonade - Joukowsky (2009) V+
Collapsed Vaults West Cryptoporticus
D
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
West Cryptoporticus Collapse - Joukowsky (2009) VIII+
The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

Phase XI Earthquake - 6th century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description Intensity
Fallen Columns East Triple Collonade
P
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
East Triple Collonade Collapse - Joukowsky (2009) V+
Folded Step and kerbs (folded mortar pavements) West Entry Stairs
C
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
West Entry Stairs Collapse - Joukowsky (2009) VI+
Fallen Columns Temple East Porch Column
Fig. 2

Petra Great Temple site plan (Marshall C. Agnew).

Joukowsky (2009)
Temple East Porch Column Collapse - Joukowsky (2009) V+
The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VI (6) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224) and is likely an underestimate.

Notes and Further Reading
References

Articles and Books

Joukowsky, M. S. and J. J. Basile (2001). "More Pieces in the Petra Great Temple Puzzle." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research(324): 43-58.

Joukowsky, M.S. (2002) The Petra Great Temple: A Nabataean Architectural Miracle Near Eastern Archaeology 2002 65:4, 235-248

Joukowsky, M. S. 2009. Surprises at the Petra Great Temple: a retrospective. Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan X: 291–310.

Joukowsky, M. S. (2015) AN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL: THE PETRA GREAT TEMPLE. Eretz-Israel: Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies

Korzhenkov, A. et.al., 2016, Следы землетрясений в затерянном городе (Earthquake trails in a lost city), Nature 43

Excavation Reports

Joukowsky, M. S., et al. (1998). Petra Great Temple, Volume 1

Joukowsky, M. S. (2007). Petra Great Temple, Volume 2 Oxbow Books.

Joukowsky, M. S., et al. (1998). Petra Great Temple, Volume 3

Websites

Petra Great Temple Site Bibliography

The Petra Great Temple Database Project

The Petra Great Temple Excavation Web Page - Brown University

Petra Great Temple Excavations on Open Context

Petra Great Temple Excavation Trenches on Open Context

Petra Great Temple at Manar Al-Athar (Oxford University)

3D Model of The Great Temple at Sketchfab

Bibliography from Brown University



Wikipedia pages

Great Temple (Petra)