Hegra
ٱلْحِجْر · Madā'in Ṣāliḥ · Al-Hijr · Mada'in Salih
Lihyan to Nabataean to Roman Arabia Petraea·Nabataean Arab·🇸🇦 Medina Region / Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
About
About Hegra
Second capital of Nabataean kingdom after Petra (1st c. BCE–106 CE), with 131 rock-cut monumental tombs with decorated façades (Qasr al-Farid loner tomb iconic), Nabataean Aramaic inscriptions banning tomb opening, and water wells of Hegra city. Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO site (2008). Lihyanite/Dedanite layer beneath Nabataean (5th–2nd c. BCE). Thorn irrigation in desert wadi.
Why it mattersLargest Nabataean necropolis after Petra; Aramaic inscriptions; incense road.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Qasr Farid left unfinished 1% — patron died?
- 02Hegra vs Petra rivalry
Theories
- 01Nabataean funerary competition
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.100 BCE–106 CE (Nabataean)
- Period
- Lihyan to Nabataean to Roman Arabia Petraea
- Culture
- Nabataean Arab
- Builders
- Aretas IV, Rabbel II
- Purpose
- Southern Nabataean caravan citadel and necropolis
- Abandoned
- c.106 CE Roman annexation (Trajan) then Islamic
- Rediscovered
- 1876 Doughty; 1907 Jaussen/Savignac; UNESCO 2008
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1 CE
Qasr al-Farid carved (unfinished)
106 CE
Trajan annexes Nabataea
2008
UNESCO inscription
On the ground
Structures & features
26.7900° N · 37.9540° E · 800 m · 3 mapped features
Qasr al-Farid (Lonely Castle)
tombUnfinished isolated Nabataean façade
26.7745° N · 37.9415° EQasr al-Bint group (Area B)
tomb35 decorated façades
26.7910° N · 37.9545° EAncient Hegra town (Ithlib)
tellMudbrick walled town + wells
26.7890° N · 37.9500° E