The Colonnaded Street leads you past the Pool and Garden Complex - a vast area of gardens and a large pool of water - to the remains of the Great Temple, which in its time was a magnificent monument of the ancient city and a symbol of the wealth and power of its rulers. The top of the columns was decorated with elephant heads instead of the usual corner volutes, another symbol of splendour and strength. Its central location shows that it was an important monument in its time, but it remains unclear whether it was a religious or administrative site or a building for public events. It was divided into two levels. The first level, the Lower Temenos, may have been a marketplace or forum. The second level, the Upper Temenos, may have contained a theatre or an assembly hall. The Great Temple covers a total area of 7,560 m2.

The Great Temple Compex is one of the principal sites of ancient Petra. The Great Temple was constructed around the first century BC, making it over 2000 years old. It is one of the most important archaeological and architectural sites in Petra. In its heyday, it served as a center for religious and governmental functions. The style combines Nabatean and classical Greek influences. It's quite fascinating.

The Great Temple is a collection of buildings, constructed by the Nabateans towards the end of the first century BC. The Temple has a number of sacred enclosures. The construction of the Temple indicates that the Nabateans combined their native stone working skills with classical influences. The Temple is 18 meters tall (60 feet). It must have been an impressive sight at the height of the Nabatean Empire.