The Great Temple of Petra The Great Temple of Petra

Wikipedia - CC BY-SA 3.0 - Bernard Gagnon


Introduction

The Great Temple is one of the largest surviving structures of Petra.

Maps and Plans
Maps and Plans

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

Chronology
Phasing from Joukowsky (2009)

The Great Temple of Petra Phasing Figure 3

Petra Great Temple Chronological Chart of Site Phases.

Joukowsky (2009)

Phase VI Earthquake - Early 2nd century CE

Joukowsky and Basile (2001:50), using a different phasing than Joukowsky (2009), discussed archeoseismic evidence from the early 2nd century CE at the Great Temple.

Dated to the mid-second century, Nabataean-Roman Phase IV follows a minor collapse when the uppermost course of the propylaea stairs was built to provide access to the Lower Temenos, and when the Lower Temenos east cryptoportico, which may have seen collapse, was filled in.

Phase IX Earthquake - 4th century CE

Joukowsky (2009) attributed the Phase IX earthquake to the southern Cyril Quake of 363 CE.

Phase XI Earthquake - 6th century CE

Although Joukowsky (2009) attributed seismic destruction to the 551 CE Beirut Quake, the epicenter of this earthquake was too far from Petra (almost 400 km.) to have caused such damage. The Inscription at Areopolis Quake is a more likely candidate.

Phase XIII Collapses - Later Earthquakes ?

Joukowsky (2009) listed a series of major collapses in the Islamic Period.

Seismic Effects
Phase VI Earthquake - Early 2nd century CE

Phase IX Earthquake - 4th century CE

Phase XI Earthquake - 6th century CE

Phase XIII Collapses - Later Earthquakes ?

Intensity Estimates
Phase VI Earthquake - Early 2nd century CE

Effect Description Intensity
Displaced Walls minor collapse when the uppermost course of the propylaea stairs was built (Joukowsky and Basile, 2001). VII+
Displaced Walls Damage to Propylaeum West (Joukowsky, 2009) VII+
Displaced Walls ? Repairs to Lower Temenos (Joukowsky, 2009) VII+
Collapsed Walls 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 Description Intensity
Displaced Walls Collapse of the Propylaeum (Joukowsky, 2009) VII+
Fallen Columns Collapse of the Lower Temenos West Triple Collonade (Joukowsky, 2009) V+
Collapsed Vaults 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 Description Intensity
Fallen Columns East Triple Collonade Collapse (Joukowsky, 2009) V+
Folded Step and kerbs West Entry Stairs Collapse (Joukowsky, 2009) VI+
Fallen Columns 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
Archaeoseismic Observations

Figure Image Description Source
5a support wall Korzhenkov et al (2016)
5b re-used building elements Korzhenkov et al (2016)
7 Collapsed Column Korzhenkov et al (2016)