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Al-Khazneh

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Al Khazneh

Al Khazneh (The Treasury) (Arabic: الخزنة) is one of the most elaborate buildings in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. The building is carved out of sandstone and is a popular tourist attraction.

It is called the treasury because for a long time, bedouins who lived in that area believed that the urn on top of the building contained valuable treasures. Bullet marks are visible on the urn itself, as evidence of attempts to "break" it and claim the treasure. Such attempts would have proved fruitless, as the urn -- like the structures surrounding it -- is solid rock.

Factually speaking however, it appears that the building isn't actually a treasury, but a temple of some kind. [citation needed]

The entrance to the treasury is through a long, dark, rock passage called al-Siq (meaning the shaft).

Trivia

  • The building is home to a rocket launch facility for the Nostra Corporation in Spyhunter.

See also