Avdat and the Nabatean Empire. Avdat and the Nabatean Empire.
Visitors are amazed at the grandeur of the former city amidst the stark and barren Negev deserts.
To understand this, we must first understand the developments of the Nabateans. The Nabateans were an Arab tribe that wandered from place to place. Part of their culture was to forbid the planting of produce for this made them force to remain in one area. They were a nomadic tent dwelling group who roamed the harsh desert lands with their flocks. They lived a life of banditry raiding the traders who followed the trade route from Syria, Damascus, Jerusalem and Egypt.