WADI MOUSA

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Wadi Mousa

Wadi Mousa is the name of the village closest to Petra, and is the destination of buses going there. It is the official address of hotels and so forth.

Originally, this was the name of the valley, rather than the village, which was named Elgee. (Those who have wondered about the origin of the name of the Elgee Hotel need wonder no longer). As the village spread from its original site, the name of the valley gradually came to be applied to the whole conglomeration of houses.

These houses were grouped around a spring ( Aien Mousa), which has gone underground in modern times. This was also a settlement which goes back at least to Nabatean and Roman times.


There are several families (tribes) in Wadi Mousa the Helalat,Hassanat,Nawafleh,Masa'adeh,Amarat,Fallahat,Farajat,Salameen,Maashallah,Hamadeen and Twaissat.