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Incorporating both functional and decorative aspects, Petra emerged as a bustling trade hub, leveraging its strategic location along crucial caravan routes that connected different empires. Rich with luxury goods such as incense and myrrh, the city eventually became known as the "Las Vegas of its time," attracting visitors from far and wide.
The Enduring Legacy
Despite its past glory, Petra experienced significant decline due to multiple factors, including economic shifts and natural disasters. The city was heavily impacted by an earthquake in 363 A.D., which severely damaged its water systems and infrastructure. Following this disaster, the decline continued, partly due to the diversion of trade routes and other calamities that rendered Petra less important.