The Garden Temple Complex

The so called Garden Temple (often incorrectly called Garden Tomb); with its scrub covered area is situated in front of the most charming places in Petra. It is protected by a jagged cliff on all sides and it is here that is situated the spring that must have made possible the garden from which the temple got its name.

The temple itself has four columns, the two outer ones engaged and the two central ones free standing. They support a somewhat worn entablature, though worn but still one of the most attractive and delightful positions in Petra, of the façade and form the front of the portico in antis inserted in the mountain rock. This then leads into the interior chamber (shrine) which is 5.5 meters square. Steps on the right of the Temple leads us to the top of the rock above the roof where there is a natural ledge.

Here we find a large cistern, a large hall about 7.5 meters wide carved into the hillside behind, and a terrace with a view over the courtyard of the Roman Soldier Tomb. The Garden Temple is usually described as part of the Roman Soldier Tomb complex but it is probable that it was late Nabataean and was incorporated into the general plan when the Tomb complex was structured later.