The Outer Siq

The gorge from Wadi al Jarra to the point where it opens out into the central valley of Petra is known as the outer Siq why it is not called the inner Siq one cannot understand. It is relatively narrow to begin with but is not so confined as the proper Siq. While walking through it you begin to see monumental façades carved in the walls. There is a group of three monuments on the western wall of the outer Siq, the dominant one is a fine , bold double cornice II type which, even though badly worn, is none the less of commanding presence. Another, double cornice I type, is surfeited with carved troglodyte wonders, traces of flanking Nabataean pilasters and an architrave and lines of pitched pediment can be seen.

Beyond these façade there is a further group of large monuments, one of which is free-standing and has strong, finely chiseled "classical" details and most dramatic coloring.

It also contained caves that where inhabited by Bedouins until the government decided to settle them down in a near town in order to preserve the place, the caves walls are patterned as marbleized paper, and the best spots to rest and shelter from the hot midday summer sun.

A whole row of Assyrian-type monuments appear on the right almost at ground level climbing up a long-buried hillside, they afford a chance to get a close-up of the bands of multiple crew-steps ornament. Above these is what looks like a deep, lateral crack in the strata of the flat rock face. A visit to the place will definitely provide much more, for one has to follow the routs, and admire the scattered tombs in the outer Siq and else where.