16/05/2025
Dear Reader,
The capital of the Nabataean Arabs civilization, which emerged in the 6th century BC in the south of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is known as
"Petra," the Greco-Roman name for the city, meaning "the rock." It was given this name due to its terrain, composed of Rocky Mountains.
However, the Nabataean name for this city is "Raqim," derived from the word "Raqm" (which
means "number" in Arabic). This name clearly indicates that the construction of the city was based on scientific and mathematical calculations. Another meaning of the word "Raqim" in Arabic is "the celestial sphere marked by planets," suggesting a connection to astronomy.
As for the Arab civilization that built this city and spread its influence over a vast geographical area of the ancient world by land and sea, they called
themselves the "Nabataeans," derived from the verb "Istinbat," meaning to search, invent, and innovate. This name implies a scientific nature to this people.
The Nabataeans left behind many monuments and artifacts in the city of Raqim and other cities they established across their expansive kingdom, which
confirm that they were engaged in scientific research. They achieved advanced results in various scientific fields such as astronomy , time management, meteorology (known as “Almanac”), in addition to other sciences like engineering and chemistry.
Their cities’ construction was based on scientific
calculations, and it is clear that they invented important scientific tools, some of which are still in use today.
Through this book, I am pleased to share my personal vision regarding the Nabataean civilization in general and the city of Raqim (Petra) in particular. This vision is the result of my research journey, which began in 1998 and continues to this day. The book presents the scientific material and findings I have reached, where I conducted thorough investigations, analysis, and extensive comparisons in pursuit of the most accurate details that can clarify the nature of this civilization, often described as mysterious.
With my sincerest regards,
Ma’moun Ali Moammer Alnawafleh
