9 Inspiring Petra Jordan Treasury LEGO MOCs: Ideas, Tips and Instructions
Brick by Brick: Recreating Petra’s Iconic Treasury in LEGO
In the heart of Jordan’s rugged desert, where sun-baked sandstone cliffs glow rose-red at dawn, lies Petra—the ancient Nabataean caravan city carved half-into, half-built against the rock. From as early as the 4th century BC, Petra flourished as a crossroads of trade between Arabia, Egypt, and Syria-Phoenicia, its façades blending Eastern artistry with Hellenistic and Roman influences. Among its many monuments, none captures the imagination like Al-Khazneh, “The Treasury,” its ornate pylon rising some 24 meters wide and 37 meters tall, sculpted directly from the cliff face during the reign of Aretas IV in the early 1st century AD.
Reproducing this masterpiece in LEGO challenges builders to think in layers of color and form. The Treasury’s symmetry, broken pediments, and carved columns demand careful use of plates, tiles, and slopes to emulate weathered stone. Meanwhile, the backdrop of towering cliffs invites innovative uses of tan bricks and greebling to suggest erosion and depth. Whether you aspire to micro-scale mini-architecture or a diorama worthy of an art gallery wall, Petra’s Treasury offers endless inspiration.
From capturing the play of sunlight across its carved niches to balancing structural stability with delicate detailing, building a LEGO Treasury is both an architectural puzzle and a creative adventure. Let this ancient wonder guide your next MOC, inviting you to explore techniques that marry historical accuracy with imaginative flair.
Building Tips
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Layered Plate Technique: Stack 1×2 and 1×1 plates in alternating shades of tan and medium nougat to mimic the natural striations of Petra’s sandstone.
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Symmetry with SNOT: Use “Studs-Not-On-Top” for columns and archways to maintain precise alignment on both sides of the façade.
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Greebling for Erosion: Integrate small round tiles and cheese slopes to suggest chiseled details and weathered surfaces.
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Backdrop Integration: Construct a removable cliff panel behind your Treasury using irregular brick stacking to create realistic rock faces.
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Minifigure Scale vs. Micro: Decide early whether to include minifigs for scale (1:48) or pursue a micro-architecture approach (1:100) to ensure consistent proportions.
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Color Substitutions: Where medium nougat isn’t available, light tan or light brown can harmonize—just keep shadows in darker hues for contrast.
Types of Petra Treasury MOCs to Explore
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Frame-Style Dioramas: Mounted in a picture frame, emphasizing the façade as an art piece.
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Modular Architecture: Break the model into removable sections—columns, central tholos, upper pediment—for display and study.
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Alternate-Set Builds: Use pieces from existing Architecture sets (e.g., Trevi Fountain 21062) to recreate Petra with zero extra bricks.
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Cliff and Canyon Scenes: Extend beyond the Treasury to include the Siq entrance or Monastery at Petra.
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Interior Reveal: Build a hollow-backed version showing chamber interiors and crypt details.
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Minifig-Scale Expedition: Add LEGO explorers, camels, and desert flora for a narrative scene.
Featured MOCs
Model: Petra Jordan and the Last Crusade in Frame
Designer: PantelisManthos
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra
Designer: benbuildslego
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra – The Treasury
Designer: ARCHI3D
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra (Jordan)
Designer: klosspalatset
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: The Treasury of Petra
Designer: BEAVeR
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra Treasury Building (with cliff)
Designer: Fattydad
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra Jordan Treasury – Temple of the Holy Grail
Designer: Dex Bricks
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra Treasury Building (without cliff)
Designer: Fattydad
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
Model: Petra / al-Batrā
Designer: ModulAREbricks
Get the instructions: Get the instructions
