The ancient city, the capital of Idumea, later the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. Is located on the territory of modern Jordan, at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level and 660 m above the surrounding terrain, the valley of the arava region of Israel, in the narrow canyon Сик.
Peter was on the crossroads of two major trade routes: one connects the Red sea with Damascus, the other Persian Gulf to the Gaza strip on the coast of the Mediterranean sea. Heading from the Persian Gulf camel навьюченным precious spices, weeks had to endure the harsh conditions of the Arabian desert, until they reached the cool of the narrow canyon Сик, leading to the long-awaited Peter. There the travelers find food, shelter and cool the life-giving water.
Hundreds of years of trade brought the reign of Peter the great wealth. But when the Romans discovered the sea route to the East, the land trade in spices came to naught, and Peter gradually empty, lost in the Sands. Many structures of Petra were erected in different periods and with different masters of the city, among whom were of Edom (18-2 centuries BC.), набатеи (2 in BC. - 106 A.D.), Romans (106-395 A.D.), the Byzantines and the Arabs. In the XII century A.D. it was the property of the crusaders.