Hegra, also known as Mada’in Salih or Al-Hijr, is an ancient city located in Saudi Arabia’s Al-‘Ula region. It was the second largest city of the Nabataean Kingdom, after their capital Petra in Jordan.
The site features 111 remarkably well-preserved monumental tombs carved into sandstone outcrops, along with 130 wells. Most of these structures date back to the 1st century AD when the Nabataeans ruled the area.
Hegra was an important hub on ancient trade routes, connecting various civilizations. The tombs show influences from Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Persian architectural styles, which archaeologists describe as “Arab Baroque.”
The site also contains traces of earlier Lihyanite settlements and later Roman occupation. After the Roman annexation in 106 AD, Hegra gradually declined and was largely abandoned.
For centuries, Hegra was mostly forgotten, occasionally mentioned by travelers and pilgrims en route to Mecca. In Islamic tradition, it’s associated with the story of Prophet Saleh and the Thamud people.
The builders of Hegra were the Nabataeans, an Arab tribal society that dominated ancient caravan trade routes between the Mediterranean and southern Arabia for several centuries. They were known for their expertise in rock-cut architecture, and the geology of Hegra provided the perfect medium for carving monumental structures.
The Nabataeans were wealthy traders, dealing in incense, myrrh, and spices. This wealth is reflected in the elaborate tombs they built. They developed sophisticated water management systems, digging wells and rainwater tanks in the rock, which allowed them to thrive in the harsh desert environment.
Interestingly, the Nabataeans were influenced by various cultures. Their architectural styles show Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Persian influences, which archaeologists describe as “Arab Baroque.” They also developed their own script, rooted in Aramaic, which later evolved into the Arabic script.
Hegra was an important hub on ancient trade routes, connecting various civilizations. After the Roman annexation in 106 AD, the city gradually declined and was largely abandoned. For centuries, it was mostly forgotten, occasionally mentioned by travelers and pilgrims en route to Mecca.
In 2008, Hegra became Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. It opened to tourists in 2019 when Saudi Arabia started issuing tourist visas. Today, it’s seen as a key to understanding the Nabataean civilization and is becoming an important tourist destination in Saudi Arabia.