What did the people who lived in Petra speak?

The people who lived in Petra spoke a language called Nabataean Aramaic. This was a dialect of Aramaic, a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew.

Here's what we know:

* Aramaic was the lingua franca of the region in ancient times. It was widely spoken across the Middle East, including areas like Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine.

* Nabataean Aramaic had its own unique characteristics. It had words and grammatical features distinct from other Aramaic dialects.

* We have evidence of the language from inscriptions. Thousands of inscriptions in Nabataean Aramaic have been found in Petra and other Nabataean sites. These inscriptions provide valuable insights into the language, culture, and history of the Nabataeans.

While the Nabataeans primarily used Aramaic, they likely also knew other languages:

* Greek: This was the language of trade and administration in the Hellenistic world, and the Nabataeans had extensive trade networks.

* Arabic: Arabic was spoken in the Arabian Peninsula and likely had some influence on Nabataean Aramaic.

Overall, Nabataean Aramaic was the primary language spoken in Petra, with other languages playing a secondary role in commerce and diplomacy.