Today we will continue to talk about the Spice Road
the oldest trade route connecting India, the Spice Islands and East Africa with the countries of the Mediterranean. Thousands of camels, laden with incense and spices, walked along the desert road for several weeks.
The article “Petra – a city carved from stone” says: “In the deserts bordering the Mediterranean, caravan routes passed, which, like modern highways stretching across continents, served as a message between cities distant from each other. And just as cars need gas stations, so camels, despite their legendary endurance, need rest where there is water” (g00 3/22 pp. 18-19). Yes, both people and animals along the way needed rest, water and food supplies. Travelers of ancient times knew all the places where they could take all this, especially water. These were the cities of the Nabatean people, which were on their way. One of them was ancient Avdat. This city was a key point on the Spice Road, along which spices and incense were carried.
The article “Petra – a city carved from stone” says: “In the deserts bordering
the Mediterranean, caravan routes passed, which, like modern highways stretching across continents, served as a message between cities distant from each other. And just as cars need gas stations, so camels, despite their legendary endurance, need rest where there is water” (g00 3/22 pp. 18-19). Yes, both people and animals along the way needed rest, water and food supplies. Travelers of ancient times knew all the places where they could take all this, especially water. These were the cities of the Nabatean people, which were on their way. One of them was ancient Avdat. This city was a key point on the Spice Road, along which spices and incense were carried.
Here we are met by a caravan of tired camels, reminding us of the Spice Road.
Avdat, in fact, is a Nabataean-Roman-Byzantine city. Therefore, it is not surprising that the entrance to the city runs through the Roman fortress. In 106 a.d. e. The Nabatean king Rabbel II died and his kingdom was captured by the Roman Empire and transformed into the Roman province of Arabia.
We rise to the top of the fortress, first along the outer staircase, then along the inner one.
This tower once stood guard of the city. From here you have a stunning view of the valley below and Avdat itself, or rather the Byzantine citadel.
On the other hand, camels are also wandering to rest, parking with our car and the entrance to the city.
From the Roman fortress, which, as I said, was a watchtower, we enter the Byzantine quarter, which was inhabited in the late Roman period.
During a tour of the ruins of ancient Avdat, it is important to look not only around, but also under your feet. That’s where you’ll see the signs.
We walk along the once crowded street.
To the right were the stables. This is a very remarkable fact. The fact is that in addition to the main sources of income, the Nabataeans were engaged in the cultivation of racing horses.
During the Byzantine period, Avdat was a large settlement with cisterns, agriculture, food stores and shops. To make it easier to imagine the life of the city of that time, funny metal sculptural compositions were made. Do not forget to stop near them, feel the atmosphere conveyed by the figurines and, of course, take pictures with them.