Discover how Petra in Jordan rose to fame worldwide through Indiana Jones, Transformers, and video games—boosting travel while prompting preservation efforts.
Some places seem made for grand stories. Petra in Jordan is one of them. Its rose-colored façades carved straight into rock look as if they’ve stepped out of a legend. It’s no surprise filmmakers return here for adventure settings. Thanks to the screen, millions recognize the site even if they’ve never been.
True fame arrived with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), where Petra appeared as a temple said to hold the Holy Grail.
For those scenes, the production used Al-Khazneh—one of the city’s most striking monuments. The soaring facade, about 40 meters high, with columns and arches hewn from the cliff, became an instant icon. After the release, visitor numbers swelled as people worldwide wanted to see the film’s setting for themselves.
Twenty years later, Petra returned to Hollywood in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009). There it was portrayed as the hiding place of an ancient extraterrestrial device.
The city’s air of mystery fit the story. Sheer cliffs, narrow corridors, and age-old ruins made the sequences even more dramatic. Petra once again reached millions of viewers.
Petra’s presence extends beyond film. It appears in well-known video games such as Lego Indiana Jones, Spy Hunter, and King’s Quest V. In Civilization V, it can even be built as a world wonder.
So the ancient city found its place in mass culture, even in digital form.
After its appearances in major films, the site grew even more popular with travelers. Many come precisely because they first saw Petra on screen.
Fame, however, has a cost. Heavy footfall speeds the wear of fragile structures—the rock slowly erodes and crumbles. To protect the site, Jordan’s authorities have introduced measures: limiting visitor numbers and closing certain areas to preserve Petra for future generations.
This ancient city lives both in the real world and on screen. Cinema made Petra known across the globe, and its enigmatic beauty continues to inspire directors.
We may well see it in another production soon. One thing feels certain: Petra will remain a lasting emblem of adventure, history, and mystery for years to come.