DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4996#0160
THE THEATRE. 131
all appearance seated on a camel. The name given by the Arabs
to the excavation " El-Khusne," signifies " the treasure," which is
supposed by them to be contained in the large vase at the top, sur-
mounting the central lantern. They often vainly fire at it, hoping
to bring down its imaginary contents, and they fancy that the
visits of Frank travellers are for the purpose of conjuring away to
their own homes, by some serial magic, what they are themselves
unable to lay hold of. The portico, about thirty-five feet high, is deep
and imposing, and richly decorated ; it gives access by the central
door into a large square chamber, its walls and ceiling perfectly
plain, and unornamented, behind which is another smaller one.
Two lateral doorways in the portico also open into similar apart-
ments ; the principal chamber is now inscribed with a pretty
considerable number of names, principally from England and
America.
The ravine, which seems as if it just opened to afford a suit-
able situation for this beautiful monument, now closes again for a
while, and the cliffs are of less height; it then gradually opens a
little, the rocks on either side, still towering and romantic, and still
most beautiful in form and colouring, are hewn into numerous
sepulchres, some of considerable size, and decorated with pilasters,
rising irregularly one above another, as they follow the sinuous
course'of the rocks, half overgrown with wild vegetation. Among
these tombs is the one with the Greek inscription, mentioned by
Laborde. Still widening, and opening gradually, the rocky valley,
making a bend to the left, suddenly displays another of the more
striking monuments of Petra—the Theatre. Of this, also, and the
surrounding scenery, the drawing will convey a better idea than any
verbal description : the whole is carved out of the side of the
valley: there are thirty-three ranges of seats, which are in a very
tolerable state of preservation : there are also several niches," looking
like boxes, in the wall above, as will appear from the drawing;
The scena built up below has fallen in, and opened a view of
the wild brook, murmuring through tangled tufts of oleanders at
its foot, and passing out below to traverse the city. The Tliea-
all appearance seated on a camel. The name given by the Arabs
to the excavation " El-Khusne," signifies " the treasure," which is
supposed by them to be contained in the large vase at the top, sur-
mounting the central lantern. They often vainly fire at it, hoping
to bring down its imaginary contents, and they fancy that the
visits of Frank travellers are for the purpose of conjuring away to
their own homes, by some serial magic, what they are themselves
unable to lay hold of. The portico, about thirty-five feet high, is deep
and imposing, and richly decorated ; it gives access by the central
door into a large square chamber, its walls and ceiling perfectly
plain, and unornamented, behind which is another smaller one.
Two lateral doorways in the portico also open into similar apart-
ments ; the principal chamber is now inscribed with a pretty
considerable number of names, principally from England and
America.
The ravine, which seems as if it just opened to afford a suit-
able situation for this beautiful monument, now closes again for a
while, and the cliffs are of less height; it then gradually opens a
little, the rocks on either side, still towering and romantic, and still
most beautiful in form and colouring, are hewn into numerous
sepulchres, some of considerable size, and decorated with pilasters,
rising irregularly one above another, as they follow the sinuous
course'of the rocks, half overgrown with wild vegetation. Among
these tombs is the one with the Greek inscription, mentioned by
Laborde. Still widening, and opening gradually, the rocky valley,
making a bend to the left, suddenly displays another of the more
striking monuments of Petra—the Theatre. Of this, also, and the
surrounding scenery, the drawing will convey a better idea than any
verbal description : the whole is carved out of the side of the
valley: there are thirty-three ranges of seats, which are in a very
tolerable state of preservation : there are also several niches," looking
like boxes, in the wall above, as will appear from the drawing;
The scena built up below has fallen in, and opened a view of
the wild brook, murmuring through tangled tufts of oleanders at
its foot, and passing out below to traverse the city. The Tliea-