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| Tree of life is the first from the right |
Petra - in Latin it means Rock. The name is given by ancient Greek merchants witnessing the wast mountain ranges in the desert. The place was believed to be inhabited as early as nine thousand BCE. Nabataeans, one of the nomadic tribes of Arabian desert, were the occupants of this area.
Nabateans were polytheistic and worshipped a wide variety of gods. The Gods were represented mostly as abstract stone sculptures and their sacred places are adorned with geometric designs. Nabateans believed in afterlife, practiced ritual sacrifices. Petra, mainly the siq has many temples and worshiping places which clearly show the regular habitual life of Nabateans filled with religious practices.
Petra was a multi cultural hub. Being a trade hub along the ancient silk route, the place witnessed cultural interaction, religious diversity, philosophical patronage along with exchange of material wealth. This small stone carving of "Tree of life" as believed today, represents the later part of Nabateans life, when Christianity was adopted by the inhabits.
However, the question still remains as is it really the "Tree of life" that is mentioned in the Bible or is it just another worshiping symbol of Pre-Islamic religions from the desert?
