Jabal Ithlib

Religion and ritual at Hegra seem to have been concentrated in the area within the colossal and spectacular Jabal Ithlib, with access gained via a narrow passageway through the gorge known as the Siq. This feature takes its name from the well-known passageway found at Petra, though Hegra’s example is much shorter.
To the right of the Siq as you enter is the Diwan, a kind of dining area known as a triclinium, in which elite or ritual banqueting would likely have taken place. The open front of the Diwan here suggests it may have had a public element, with observers outside of the room. The Siq leads from the Diwan into the central area of Jabal Ithlib, past betyls and inscriptions that indicate the likely religious nature of this area and the passageway. Within the centre of the mountain range a channel has been cut by water flowing down the mountain, allowing rainwater runoff to flow down into a large natural basin and from there into a rock-cut cistern. It is suggested that the water gathered here was used for religious purposes.