Subscribe Now! Get National Geographic Magazine for only $15
The Lion Triclinium, located in a narrow side canyon on the ascent to Petra's famed Monastery building, takes its name from the two badly eroded reliefs carved on either side of its doorway. Often referred to as the Lions Tomb, the monument was more likely a funeral triclinium, a room where funeral banquets were held. Early archaeologists can be forgiven the misnomer, though. Petra is so densely populated with tombs that it was once thought the city had been constructed solely for the dead.
Special thanks to the Petra National Trust and the Petra Archaeological Park for their assistance on this project.
The preservation of this World Heritage Site in Jordan is being put at risk as more and more tourists flock to this ancient city of stone.
The votes are in! Check out a new list of the world's seven greatest man-made wonders.
In Afghanistan, over 20,000 pieces of ancient gold jewelry and artifacts were discovered in 1979. Mysterious "keyholders" pledged their lives to hide the treasure from plunderers. Did they succeed?