Grab your favorite drawing and art supplies and let’s explore the
“Lost City” of Petra in the country of
Jordan.
Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels.
The “Rose City” is a honeycomb of hand-hewn caves, temples, and tombs carved from blushing pink sandstone in the high desert of Jordan some 2,000 years ago. Hidden by time and shifting sand, Petra tells of a lost civilization. Little is known about the Nabateans—a nomadic desert people whose kingdom rose up from these cliffs and peaks, and whose incredible wealth grew from the lucrative incense trade. Petra grew into the Nabateans’ most prominent city, linking camel caravans between the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas, from Egypt to Syria and beyond to Greece. Control of water sources and an almost magic ability to vanish into the cleft rocks ensured the Nabateans remained unconquered for centuries.
Petra was only rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt in 1812, and it continues to spill its secrets. Even now, archaeologists have explored less than half of the sprawling site, and in 2016, with the help of satellite imagery, a monumental structure was found still buried in the sand. It’s no wonder that Petra remains Jordan’s top tourist attraction and
one of the most revered of the World Heritage sites.PETRA- The Rose City of JordanVideo:
Petra: The Rose City IntroductionGetty Images- Petra
Most Breathtaking Ancient Ruins
Global Castaway-Petra
Historic World Wonder
Some Call Me AdventurousJORDAN- Jewel of The Middle EastVideo
Jordan- An Introduction
Beautiful Jordan
A World of Travel- Jordan
Pixabay- Jordan
Jordan's Royal PalacesLocation of Jesus' BaptismChurches in JordanDeposit Photos- JordanAll Virtual New York Urban Sketchers events are one session (
10 am -12 pm EST) held on Saturdays. For participants wanting to challenge themselves sketching more of a particular locality or theme, you are welcome to do the
EXTENSION SKETCH PROJECT below:
Petra & Jordan Extension Sketch Project:Choose of the following prompt to sketch:
*Please post your finished sketches
to the
USK NYC Facebook SiteBe sure to add the hash tag
#NUS.***************************************
Facilitators of Virtual NYC Urban Sketchers
- Theresa Smith
- Lynda Greeley (Mama Bear)
- Cecilia Evasco (Maricel)
- Dina Schlesinger
- Michael Skelly
- Alan Wernicke
- Elizabeth Birkby
with the assistance of Mark Leibowitz
founder of
USK NYC***************************************
web site design by
Cecilia Evascofor Virtual NYC Urban Sketchers
under the auspices of
USK NYCScheduled for November 13, 2021
Coming UP:
Thanksgiving around the World