The facade of Al Khazneh is decorated with many floral and figurative elements, showing clear references to the Ptolemaic palace architecture of Alexandria. It is even thought that it was created by Alexandrian stonemasons and sculptors. According to archelolgist, the work could have taken about three years. Like most of the rock facades in Petra, it was covered with a light layer of stucco and painted in color. The Arabic name "Khazneh al-Fira'un" (Pharaoh's Treasury, short: al-Khazneh) comes from the local Bedouins' believe that an Egyptian pharaoh had hidden a treasure in the urn on the top. Therefore they shot at this stone urn again and again in the vain hope that gold pieces and precious stones would fall out of it. Possibly as early as the second half of the 1st century AD, the figurative decoration was defaced by iconoclasts. In the course of the centuries, various flash floods filled the forecourt metres high with debris. However, compared to other facades in Petra, Al-Khazneh remained relatively well preserved. Cut deep into the vertical rock on the west face of the narrow gorge, the tomb was better protected from wind and rain.
One of the most remarkable features of Petra is its rock-cut architecture. The city is famous for its intricate buildings carved directly into rose-red cliffs. The Nabataeans were skilled in quarrying and carving stone, creating elaborate facades, temples, and tombs. The ruins of Petra, dating back to around 9,000 B.C., provide invaluable insights into the lives of its diverse inhabitants. Once the thriving capital of the Kingdom of Nabataea in the fourth century B.C., Petra showcases not only the local history but also the enduring influence of Greek architecture during the Hellenistic and Roman Empires. Built by the Nabatean Arabs, the very name "Petra" itself is derived from the Greek word for "stone." The archaeological wonders continue to unfold, as recent discoveries in December 1993 revealed scrolls in Greek dating back to the Byzantine period. These significant findings, including those unearthed near the Winged Lion Temple, shed light on Petra's continuous historical significance and its enduring connection to the broader cultural currents of the ancient world.