Petra declined rapidly under Roman rule , in large part from the revision of sea-based trade routes . In 363 an earthquake destroyed many buildings , and crippled the vital water management system . The old city of Petra was the capital of the Byzantine province of Palaestina III and many churches were excavated in and around Petra from the Byzantine era . In one of them 140 papyri were discovered which contained mainly contracts , dated from 537 to 593 , establishing that the city was still flourishing in the sixth century . In the 12th century , the Crusaders built fortresses but left this place after a while . As a result , Petra was forgotten for the Western world until the 19th century . The ruins of Petra were an object of curiosity during the Middle Ages and were visited by Sultan Baibars of Egypt towards the end of the 13th century
363 an earthquake
Galilee earthquake of 363
Petra