Here we are at the Treasury, or Al-Khazneh, Petra’s most iconic monument. Carved directly out of the sandstone cliff, the Treasury stands at about forty meters tall and twenty-five meters wide. It was built in the first century BC as a mausoleum or crypt for a Nabataean king. First let’s take a look at the architecture of this stunning façade. Like many other structures in Petra, it borrows from multiple architectural styles. The Corinthian columns and frieze on the lower level of the façade are Roman architectural features. The overall symmetry also shows the influence of Roman architectural principles. The broken pediment interrupted by a rotund and the dramatic, theatrical style of the façade is traceable to Hellenistic ""Baroque"" style. But the Nabateans have added their own unique touches. The dramatic natural setting and symbols like the disk between horns, ears of wheat, and funerary urn on the roof are unique. What is truly extraordinary about the architecture though is their ability to accomplish this with a lack of modern tools. The name ""Treasury"" comes from a local legend that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasure here, in the urn at the top of the structure. This is kind of unfortunate as it has invited countless people to try and find treasure here which has led to the destruction of much of this site. Look at the urn above. It is pockmarked with bullet holes as people tried to get to treasure underneath. We now know that it is made of solid rock and holds no treasure. So how do we know this was actually a tomb? You cannot enter inside but there are human shaped and sized niches in the walls which clearly held human remains. Look at the grooves in the walls beside the treasury. Initially it was thought that they were for scaffolding to carve the structure but it was later discovered that no scaffolding was used. It is now assumed that the grooves were to give access to the top for treasure seekers, created later in time. The Treasury also gained global fame after featuring in the movie ""Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."" It is clearly a great location to take photos or film a movie so feel free to take photos. If you are lucky you might be able to find an angle where you only get yourselves, the treasury and maybe a camel or two in the background. The Khazneh’s stone facade also changes color during the day: In the morning it can be a soft yellow-rose peach hue; by late afternoon, a pure, soft rose and at sunset, an intense red. I have added photos at two different times of the day above so you can see the difference by swiping on the image above. You can also capture a different hue on your return journey. Take your time to marvel at the detailed carvings and the sheer scale of this structure. When you’re ready, let’s move on. At this point, I know that there are multiple trails that you can choose to follow. I will endeavor to take you to many of the key sights which you can see without making too much of a climb. I will then give a brief commentary on the end destinations of two of the most famous trails and let you choose how to proceed. You can also wander around and listen to the stops that are of interest to you in an order of your choosing. Follow the map, past the treasury onto the Street of Facades.