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Hegra (Mada'in Salih)

See also: List of World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia
Hegra (Mada’in Saleh)
مَدَائِن صَالِح
Mada'in Salih
Al-Hijr or Mada'in Salih
Mada'in Salih location
Mada'in Salih location
Shown within Saudi Arabia
Alternative nameAl-Hijr
ٱلْحِجْر
Mada’in Salih
LocationMedina province, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates26°47′30″N 37°57′10″E / 26.79167°N 37.95278°E / 26.79167; 37.95278
TypeSettlement
Official nameHegra Archaeological Site (Al-Hijr / Madâ’in Sâlih)
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii
Designated2008 (32nd session)
Reference no.1293
RegionArab states

Hegra (Ancient Greek: Ἕγρα, Arabic: ٱلْحِجْر, romanized: al-Ḥijr),[1][2][3] also known as Mada’in Salih[4] (Arabic: مَدَائِن صَالِح, romanized: madāʼin Ṣāliḥ, lit. 'Cities of Salih'), is an archaeological site located in the area of Al-'Ula[5] within Medina Province in the Hejaz region, Saudi Arabia. A majority of the remains date from the Nabataean Kingdom (1st century AD). The site constitutes the kingdom's southernmost and second largest city after Petra (now in Jordan), its capital city.[6] Traces of Lihyanite and Roman occupation before and after the Nabatean rule, respectively, can also be found.

The archaeological site lies in an arid environment. The dry climate, the lack of resettlement after the site was abandoned, and the prevailing local beliefs about the locality have all led to the extraordinary state of preservation of Al-Hijr,[7] providing an extensive picture of the Nabatean lifestyle. Thought to mark the southern extent of the Nabatean kingdom,[8] Al-Hijr's oasis agriculture and extant wells exhibit the necessary adaptations made by the Nabateans in the given environment—its markedly distinct settlement is the second largest among the Nabatean kingdom, complementing that of the more famous Petra archaeological site in Jordan.[7] The location of the site at the crossroads of trade, as well as the various languages, scripts and artistic styles reflected in the façades of its monumental tombs further set it apart from other archaeological sites. It has duly earned the nickname "The Capital of Monuments" among Saudi Arabia's 4,000 archaeological sites.[9][10]

The Quran[11][12][1][13][14][15][16] places the settlement of the area by the Thamudi people during the days of the prophet Salih, between those of Nuh (Noah) and Hud on one hand, and those of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses) on the other. However, a definitive historical chronology can not be obtained through the order of verses due to the fact that the Quranic chapters (see surah) deal with different subjects in non-chronologic order.[17] According to the Quran, the Thamudis were punished by God for their idolatry, struck by an earthquake and lightning blasts. Thus, the site has earned a reputation as a cursed place—an image which the national government is attempting to overcome as it seeks to develop Mada'in Salih for its potential for tourism.[18]

In 2008, UNESCO proclaimed Mada'in Salih as a site of patrimony, becoming Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage Site.[19] It was chosen for its well-preserved remains from late antiquity, especially the 131 monumental rock-cut tombs, with their elaborately ornamented façades, of the Nabataean Kingdom.[20]

  1. ^ a b Quran 15:80–84 (Translated by Pickthall)
  2. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, §E260.11
  3. ^ Strabo, Geography, § 16.4.24
  4. ^ "Hijr UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mada'in Salih | ExperienceAlUla.com". experiencealula.com. Retrieved 2020-06-03.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Mada'in Saleh - Arabian Rock Art Heritage". Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  6. ^ Marjory Woodfield (21 April 2017). "Saudi Arabia's silent desert city". BBC News.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference whs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "HISTORY: Expansion of the Nabataeans". Historical Madain Salih. Retrieved 2014-04-07.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference digging was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference madain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Quran 7:73–79 (Translated by Pickthall)
  12. ^ Quran 11:61–69 (Translated by Pickthall)
  13. ^ Quran 26:141–158 (Translated by Pickthall)
  14. ^ Quran 54:23–31 (Translated by Pickthall)
  15. ^ Quran 89:6–13 (Translated by Pickthall)
  16. ^ Quran 91:11–15 (Translated by Pickthall)
  17. ^ Asad, M. "The Message of the Quran, 1982. [Note] Surah 17:2 briefly discusses Moses, followed by 17:3 dealing with Noah. Then Surah 17:59 deals with the Thamud, 17:61 deals with Adam's creation". Archived from the original on 2019-12-22. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  18. ^ Wood, Graeme (2022-03-03). "Absolute Power". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  19. ^ "Buried stories: the tombs of Hegra". Travel. 2022-07-05. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  20. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih)". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-11-23.

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