| What makes it historical? |
The grand city of Petra sustained itself in a hot, dry desert from a little natural spring known today as Ain Musa or Moses’ Spring! According to tradition, this was the site where Moses and his followers stopped after leaving Egypt, and here, he struck a rock to bring forth fresh water!
This spring was still flowing when the nomadic Nabateans arrived in the area in the first century BC and created an advanced system of aqueducts and terra cotta pipes! That meant a steady supply of fresh water for people and their livestock, as well as a way to irrigate their crops! Today, water from this spring still feeds five villages using largely the same channels but with modern fortifications! The small building that surrounds the opening of this spring is a popular spot for pilgrims looking for miracles in the fresh desert water! |
