The Nabataean Arabs were one of the most remarkable peoples of the Ancient World but are today known only for their hauntingly beautiful rock-carved capital - Petra. Though seen most clearly at Petra, vivid traces of their creativity and control also appear in the Hejaz region of Arabia, among the wild rock formations of Wadi Rum, along trade and pilgrimage routes in the Sinai, and in towns and temples throughout Jordan and into Syria. This illustrated book recounts the story of a lost civilization - the development of their multifaceted culture, their relations with their neighbours and the demise of their kings and kingdom.