What was the name of the ancient city in. The most ancient cities

In the course of the development of civilization, people united their scattered dwellings. This is how cities appeared. History has erected great settlements and just as ruthlessly wiped them off the face of the Earth. Only a few cities were able to pass through the centuries, having endured all the blows of fate. The walls stood in the sun and rain, they saw the ages come and go.

These cities became silent witnesses of how our civilization revived and fell into decay. Today, not all great cities of the past continue to give shelter to people, many simply lie in ruins or have completely disappeared from the face of the Earth.

The British newspaper "The Guardian" has selected 15 of the most ancient cities in the world, each of which has its own unique architecture and unusual story... These places have so much ancient history that the dates can only be given approximate, historians are debating around them. So where does a person live continuously the longest?

Jericho, Palestinian Territories. This settlement appeared here 11 thousand years ago. This is the oldest residential city in the world, which was mentioned more than once in the Bible. Jericho is also known in ancient texts as the “city of palm trees”. Archaeologists have found here the remains of 20 successive settlements, which made it possible to determine the venerable age of the city. The city is located near the Jordan River, on the west bank. Even today, about 20 thousand people live here. And the ruins of ancient Jericho are located west of the center of the modern city. Archaeologists were able to find here the remains of a large tower from the pre-pottery Neolithic period (8400-7300 BC). Jericho keeps burials of the Chalcolithic period, city walls from the Bronze Age. Perhaps it was they who fell from the loud trumpets of the Israelites, giving rise to the phrase "Jericho trumpets." In the city you can find the ruins of the winter palace-residence of King Herod the Great with swimming pools, baths, lavishly decorated halls. There is also a mosaic on the floor of the synagogue, dating back to the 5th-6th centuries. And at the foot of the Tel-as-Sultan hill is the source of the prophet Elisha. Historians believe that the hills adjacent to Jericho are home to many archaeological treasures comparable to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

Byblos, Lebanon. The settlement in this place is already about 7 thousand years old. The city of Gebal, mentioned in the Bible, was founded by the Phoenicians. His other name, Byblos (Byblos), he received from the Greeks. The fact is that the city supplied them with papyrus, which was called on Greek Byblos. The city has been known since the 4th millennium BC. Byblos became famous for his temples of Baal, here the cult of the god Adonis was born. It was from here that it spread to the territory of Greece. The ancient Egyptians wrote that it was in this city that Isis found the body of Osiris in wooden box... The main tourist attractions of the city are the ancient Phoenician temples, the temple of St. John the Baptist, built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, the city's castle and the remains of the city wall. Now here, 32 kilometers from Beirut, is the Arab city of Jebeil.

Aleppo, Syria. Archaeologists believe that humans settled here in 4300 BC. Today this city is the most populated in Syria, the number of inhabitants in it is approaching 4 million. Previously, he was known under the names Halpe or Halibon. For many centuries Aleppo was the third largest city in the Ottoman Empire, second only to Constantinople and Cairo. The origin of the city's name is still unclear. Presumably "haleb" means copper or iron. The fact is that in ancient times there was a large center for their production. In Aramaic, "chalaba" means "white", which is associated with the color of the soil in the area and the abundance of marble rocks. And Aleppo got its current name from the Italians, who visited here with the Crusades. Ancient Aleppo is evidenced by Hittite inscriptions, the inscriptions of Mari in the Euphrates, in central Anatolia and in the city of Ebla. These ancient texts speak of the city as an important military and commercial center. For the Hittites, Aleppo was of particular importance, as it was the center of worship of the weather god. Economically, the city has always been an important place. The Great Silk Road passed here. Aleppo has always been a tasty morsel for invaders - it belonged to Greeks, Persians, Assyrians, Romans, Arabs, Turks and even Mongols. It was here that the great Tamerlane ordered to erect a tower of 20 thousand skulls. With the opening of the Suez Canal, Aleppo's role as a shopping center has diminished. Currently, this city is undergoing a renaissance, it is one of the most beautiful places in the Middle East.

Damascus, Syria. Many believe. That Damascus is worthy of the title of the oldest city in the world. Although there is an opinion that people lived here 12 thousand years ago, another date of settlement looks more truthful - 4300 BC. The medieval Arab historian Ibn Asakir in the XII argued that after the Flood, the first erected wall was precisely Damascus wall... The very birth of the city, he attributed to the 4th millennium BC. The very first historical evidence of Damascus dates back to the 15th century BC. Then the city was under the rule of Egypt and its pharaohs. Later, Damascus was part of Assyria, the New Babylonian kingdom, Persia, the empire of Alexander the Great, and after his death, part of the Hellenistic kingdom of the Seleucids. The city flourished during the Aramaic era. They created a whole network in the city water channels, which today are the basis of modern water supply networks in Damascus. The urban agglomeration today has 2.5 million people. In 2008, Damascus was recognized as the cultural capital of the Arab world.

Susa, Iran. The settlement in this place is already 6200 years old. And the first traces of a person in Susa date back to 7000 BC. The city is located on the territory of the modern province of Khuzestan, in Iran. They entered the history of Susa as the capital of the ancient state of Elam. The Sumerians wrote about the city in their early documents. Thus, the writings "Enmerkar and the Ruler of Aratta" say that Susa were dedicated to the deity Inanna, the patroness of Uruk. There are repeated references to the ancient city in the Old Testament, especially often its name is found in the Scriptures. The prophets Daniel and Nehemiah lived here during the Babylonian captivity in the 6th century BC, in the city of Esther she became queen and saved from persecution by the Jews. The Elamite state ceased to exist with the victories of Ashurbanipal, Susa themselves were plundered, which was not the first time that happened. The son of Cyrus the Great made Susa the capital of the Persian kingdom. However, this state also ceased to exist, thanks to Alexander the Great. The city has lost its former significance. Muslims and Mongols later walked through Susa with destruction, as a result, life in it barely glimmered. Today the city is called Shusha, it is home to about 65 thousand people.

Fayum, Egypt. This city has a history of 6 millennia. It is located south-west of Cairo, in the oasis of the same name, occupying part of Crocodilopolis. In this ancient place, the Egyptians worshiped the sacred Sebek, the crocodile god. Pharaohs of the 12th dynasty liked to visit Fayyum, then the city was called Shedit. This fact follows from the remains of the burial pyramids and temples found by Flinders Petrie. The famous Labyrinth that Herodotus described was located in Fayyum. Quite a lot of archaeological finds have been found in this area. But the world fame went to the Fayum drawings. They were made using the enacaustic technique and were funerary portraits from the time of Roman Egypt. Currently, the population of the city of El-Fayyum is more than 300 thousand people.

Sidon, Lebanon. People founded their first settlement here in 4000 BC. Sidon is located 25 kilometers south of Beirut on the coast Mediterranean Sea... This city was one of the most significant and oldest Phoenician cities. It was he who was the heart of that empire. In the X-IX centuries BC. Sidon was the largest trading center of that world. In the Bible, he was called "the firstborn of Canaan," the brother of the Amorite and Hittite. It is believed that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul visited Sidon. And in 333 BC. the city was captured by Alexander the Great. Today the city is called Sayda and is inhabited by Shia and Sunni Muslims. It is the third largest city in Lebanon with a population of 200,000.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This city also emerged 4 thousand years BC. Today it is the second largest in Bulgaria and one of the oldest in Europe. Even Athens, Rome, Carthage and Constantinople are younger than Plovdiv. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus said that the first name of this settlement was given by the Thracians - Eumolpiada. In 342 BC. the city was conquered by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the legendary conqueror. In honor of himself, the king named the settlement Philippopolis, while the Thracians pronounced this word as Pulpudeva. Since the 6th century, Slavic tribes began to control the city. In 815 he became part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom under the name of Pyldin. For the next several centuries, these lands passed from hand to hand from the Bulgarians to the Byzantines, until the Ottoman Turks seized it for a long time. Crusaders came to Plovdiv four times and plundered the city. Currently, the city is an important cultural center. There are many ruins here, evidence of rich history... The Roman aqueduct and amphitheater, as well as the Ottoman Baths, stand out here. About 370 thousand people live in Plovdiv now.

Gaziantep, Turkey. This settlement appeared in about 3650 BC. It is located in the south of Turkey, next to the Syrian border. Gaziantep takes its history from the time of the Hittites. Until February 1921, the city was called Antep, and the Turkish parliament gave the prefix gazi to residents for their services during the battles for the country's independence. Today more than 800 thousand people live here. Gaziantep is one of the most important ancient centers in the southeast of Anatolia. This city lies between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia. Here the roads between the south, north, west and east intersected, and the Great Silk Road passed. Until now, in Gaziantep you can find historical relics from the times of the Assyrians, Hittites, the era of Alexander the Great. With the heyday of the Ottoman Empire, the city experienced times of prosperity.

Beirut, Lebanon. People began to live in Beirut 3 thousand years before the birth of Christ. Today this city is the capital of Lebanon, the economic, cultural and administrative center of the country. And Lebanon was laid by the Phoenicians, choosing a rocky land in the middle of the Mediterranean coast of the modern territory of Lebanon. It is believed that the name of the city comes from the word "birot" meaning "well". For a long time, Beirut remained in the background in the region, behind more significant neighbors - Tire and Sidon. Only in the era of the Roman Empire did the city become influential. There was a famous school of law, which developed the basic tenets of the Justinian Code. Over time, this document will become the basis of the European legal system. In 635, the Arabs occupied Beirut, incorporating the city into the Arab Caliphate. In 1100 the city was captured by the Crusaders, and in 1516 by the Turks. Until 1918, Beirut was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the last century, a city with a glorious history has become an important cultural, financial and intellectual center in the Eastern Mediterranean. And since 1941, Beirut has become the capital of a new independent state - the Lebanese Republic.

Jerusalem, Israel / Palestinian Territories. This great city without a doubt was founded in 2800 BC. Jerusalem was able to become both the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the third holy city of Islam. The city has a large number of important religious sites, including the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and the Temple of the Holy Sepulcher al-Aqsa. It is not surprising that Jerusalem was constantly being conquered. As a result, the history of the city includes 23 sieges, 52 attacks. He was captured 44 times and destroyed 2 times. The ancient city lies on the watershed between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean, in the spurs of the Judean Mountains at an altitude of 650-840 meters above sea level. The first settlements in this area date back to the 4th millennium BC. V Old Testament Jerusalem is spoken of as the capital of the Jebusites. This population lived in Judea even before the Jews. It was they who founded the city, populating it initially. Jerusalem is also mentioned on Egyptian figurines of the XX-XIX centuries BC. There, among the curses to hostile cities, Rushalimum was also mentioned. In the XI century BC. Jerusalem was occupied by the Jews, who proclaimed it the capital of the Kingdom of Israel, and from the X century BC. - Jewish. After 400 years, the city was captured by Babylon, then the Persian Empire ruled over it. Jerusalem changed owners many times - these were the Romans, Arabs, Egyptians, crusaders. From 1517 to 1917, the city was part of the Ottoman Empire, after which it came under the jurisdiction of Great Britain. Today Jerusalem, with a population of 800,000, is the capital of Israel.

Tire, Lebanon. This city was founded in 2750 BC. Tire was a famous Phoenician city and a major trade center. The date of its foundation was named by Herodotus himself. And there was a settlement on the territory of modern Lebanon. In 332 BC. Tire was taken by the troops of Alexander the Great, which required a seven-month siege. From 64 BC Tire became a Roman province. It is believed that the Apostle Paul lived here for some time. In the Middle Ages, Tire became known as one of the most impregnable fortresses in the Middle East. It was in this city that Frederick Barbarossa, King of Germany and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, was buried in 1190. Now, on the site of a great ancient settlement, there is a small town of Sur. It no longer has a special meaning, trade began to be conducted through Beirut.

Erbil, Iraq. This settlement is already 4,300 years old. It is located north of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Erbil is the capital of the Iraqi unrecognized state of Kurdistan. Throughout its history, this city belonged to different peoples - Assyrians, Persians, Sassanids, Arabs and Turks. Archaeological research has confirmed that people have lived in this area without interruption for over 6 thousand years. The most eloquent evidence of this is the hill of the Citadel. It represents the remains of former settlements. There was a wall around it, which was created in pre-Islamic times. When Erbil was under the rule of the Persians, Greek sources called him Hawler or Arbela. The Royal Road passed through it, which went from the very center of the Persian center to the coast of the Aegean Sea. Erbil was also a staging post on the Great Silk Road. Until now, the ancient city citadel, 26 meters high, is visible from afar.

Kirkuk, Iraq. This city appeared in 2200 BC. It is located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad. Kirkuk is located on the site of the ancient Hurrian and Assyrian capital of Arrapha. The city had an important strategic position, so three empires fought for it at once - Babylon, Assyria and Media. They were the ones who shared control over Kirkuk for a long time. Even today, there are still ruins that are 4 thousand years old. The modern city, due to its proximity to the richest field, has become the oil capital of Iraq. About a million people live here today.

Balkh, Afghanistan. This ancient city appeared around the 15th century BC. Balkh became the first large settlement that the Indo-Aryans created during their transition from the Amu Darya. This city became a large and traditional center of Zoroastrianism; it is believed that it was here that Zarathustra was born. In late antiquity, Balkh became already an important center of the Hinayana. Historians said that in the 7th century there were more than a hundred Buddhist monasteries in the city, only 30 thousand monks lived in them. The largest temple was Navbahar, its name translated from Sanskrit means "new monastery". There was a huge statue of Buddha. In 645, the city was first captured by the Arabs. However, after the robbery, they left Balkh. In 715, the Arabs returned here, having already settled in the city for a long time. Further history Balkha knew the arrival of the Mongols and Timur, nevertheless, even Marco Polo, describing the city, called it "great and worthy." In the 16th-19th centuries, Persia, the Bukhara Khanate and the Afghans fought for Balkh. The bloody wars ended only with the transfer of the city to the rule of the Afghan Emir in 1850. Today this place is considered the center of the cotton industry, leather is well made here, getting the "Persian sheepskin". And 77 thousand people live in the city.

Although determining the exact age of ancient settlements is not so simple task for science, as it seems at first glance, a number of cities are known today, which scientists call the oldest on the planet.

Jericho, 5000 years old

The history of the ancient city of Jericho begins as early as the 9th millennium BC. e., when traces of the first human habitation were found here. Located 30 km from Jerusalem, Jericho was mentioned more than once in evangelical events. The biblical reference brought Jericho religious fame and later attracted crowds of scholars who wanted to document biblical chronology.

According to some archaeologists, Jericho is the oldest excavated city in the world, with nearly 6,000 years of almost continuous settlement. The signs at the entrance to the city, which read: "The most ancient city in the world", are also in a hurry to declare this. In addition, the city is more than 200 m below sea level, making it one of the lowest in the world.

Byblos, 7,000 years old

On the Lebanese Mediterranean coast from the ancient state of Phenicia, whose center is in modern Lebanon, the ancient city of Byblos has survived to this day, which is often referred to as the oldest city on the planet. In ancient times, Byblos was known as one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, through which papyrus was exported from Egypt to Greece.

During the era of wars, the city was not bypassed by any of the conquerors of the ancient world, leaving in memory of itself fortress walls, amphitheaters, temples and colonnades. Today Byblos is a small fishing town in northern Lebanon with a population of 20,000, which has preserved an ancient harbor with stone walls and towers, a Roman amphitheater, stone wells with sarcophagi of rulers and ruins of Hellenic temples. The central square of the city is decorated with the ancient Egyptian Temple of Obelisks, built almost 4000 years ago.

Aleppo, 6300 years old

A number of cities in neighboring Syria also vie for the title of the oldest on the planet. The largest city in terms of population in the country - Aleppo was first mentioned in the III millennium BC. NS. as the capital of the ancient Semitic state of Ebla. Throughout its history, more than a dozen conquerors from Alexander the Great to Tamerlane passed through the city, leaving their traces in the appearance of Aleppo.

Due to its strategic location on the Great Silk Road, Aleppo attracted many traders from all over Asia. The covered market Al Madinah in the old city has survived to this day, which is the world's largest historical market with a length of almost 13 km. The market, along with the territory of the old city and the famous Citadel of Aleppo, a medieval fortress of the 10th century, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Susa, 6200 years old

The city of Susa in southwestern Iran is another contender for the title of the oldest in the world. It gained fame as the capital of the ancient state of Elam, which existed on the territory of Iran since the 3rd millennium BC. After the fall of Elam, the city first became the seat of the Assyrian and then the Persian kings.

Currently, Susa is a small city with a population of 60,000. Despite its significant cultural and historical heritage, the city is famous not for the ruins of the ancient palace of the Elamite kings, but for the fortress built by French archaeologists in the late 1890s, which ensured their safety and the safety of the finds.

El-Fayyum, 6000 years old

Another oldest city in the world is El Fayyum, located in Egypt, south of the Nile Delta. The settlement on the site of El-Fayum dates back to the 4th millennium BC. NS. The ancient Egyptians called the city Shedit, and the Greeks who arrived in it called the city Crocodilopolis for the worship of local residents to the god Sebek with the head of a crocodile. In Crocodilopolis, during the flood of the Nile, there were so many predators in the local swamps that the priests, considering this a sign, declared them sacred animals. Sacred animals were often well fed, adorned with diamonds, and even mummified after death.

Modern El-Fayyum became famous for the burial portraits of the 1st-4th centuries found here in the 19th century in the tombs in the vicinity of the city. The find attracted the attention of archaeologists and scientists from all over the world - more than 900 portraits were found that can be seen in many museums around the world.

Plovdiv, 5000-6000 years old

Among oldest cities the planet has European examples. One of them is the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv in the central part of the country. Evidence of the first permanent settlement on the site of the city dates back to the 4th millennium BC. NS. Plovdiv reached its heyday after the conquest by the Romans, who left a rich cultural heritage. Among the ancient sights of the city are the ancient Roman amphitheater, thermal baths and a hippodrome, as well as the remains of a stone Thracian fortress. The restored 3000-seat amphitheater today serves as a city concert venue.

Athens, 6000-7000 years old

The ancient city of Athens, on the site of which the megalopolis that has grown to 3.5 million people is now located, counts its origin from the IV millennium BC. NS. The cradle of ancient Greek culture, Athens has always been an important center of the Mediterranean. Since ancient times, the city has been known for outstanding philosophers and architects who have had a significant impact on the development of other states. The preserved ancient monuments of the city are world famous landmarks. Among them is the Athenian Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, erected in honor of the Greek gods in the 5th century BC. BC, the Arch of Hadrian, the ancient temple of Hephaestus and many others.

Gaziantep, 5650 years old

The city of Gaziantep in southern Turkey was founded by the Hittites, presumably in the 4th millennium BC. NS. For several thousand years of its history, the city was ruled by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Armenians, Byzantines and Arabs. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Gaziantep was known for the large Armenian diaspora who lived here, which ceased to exist after the genocide in 1915.

Today Gaziantep attracts tourists with its fortress, historic mosques and the world's largest museum of Roman mosaics, most of whose exhibits were found in the neighboring ancient city of Zeugma, which was flooded during the creation of a reservoir on the Euphrates River.

Damascus, 5000-6000 years old

The time of the emergence of the capital of Syria, Damascus, was lost somewhere in the III millennium BC. e., and according to some estimates, even earlier. The history of Damascus is full of conquests, changes of rulers and dominant religions. One of the main attractions of the city is the Oymeyad Mosque, erected in the VIII century, stands on the site of the Byzantine Church of John the Baptist, and that, in turn, on the site of the pagan temple of Jupiter. This oldest and one of the most revered mosques in the Arab world houses the religious shrine of both Islam and Christianity - the tomb of John the Baptist.

Today Damascus is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Middle East, located in an oasis along the banks of the Barada River. The city has preserved many historical monuments, including an ancient fortress, palace, churches and mosques, which, having survived more than one century, in our time are under threat of destruction due to instability in the region.

Beirut, 5000 years old

The capital of Lebanon, Beirut, is also considered one of the oldest cities in the world. In historical times, Beirut was in the shadow of other Phoenician cities for a long time, and only with the arrival of the Romans did the period of its heyday begin. As the center of Roman culture in the eastern Mediterranean, Beirut became famous as the world's first law school.

The ancient and complex history of East Paris, as Beirut is sometimes called for its characteristic appearance, has led to Beirut becoming one of the most religiously diverse cities in the entire Middle East, where Christians, Muslims and Jews live side by side. For its dynamic development and rich cultural heritage, the city periodically falls into the first places in the ratings of the most attractive cities for visiting the planet.

For reference: in Europe, the oldest cities include Lisbon (about 1000 BC), Rome (753 BC), Kerkyra (about 700 BC), Mantua ( about 500 BC). For comparison: London was founded in 43 AD, Moscow no later than 1147, Kiev around 880, my Vasilkov 988.

Twenty most ancient cities in the world, still inhabited

Located on the west bank of the Ganges River, Varanasi - also known as Benares - is an important holy city for Hindus and Buddhists. According to legend, it was founded by the Hindu god Shiva 5000 years ago, although modern scholars believe that the age of the city is about 3000 years.

Built on a narrow strip of land jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Cadiz has been a port for the Spanish navy since the 18th century. Founded by the Phoenicians as a small trading post and captured by the Carthaginians around 500 BC, becoming Hannibal's base for the conquest of Iberia. Then he was in Roman and Moorish possession. It is now experiencing a renaissance.

Around 1400 BC. three modern cities founded

The main rival of ancient Athens, Thebes was ruled by the Boeotian Confederation and even aided Xerxes during the Persian invasion of 480 BC. Today, Thebes is little more than a city market.

Founded as [Kitiyk by the Phoenicians, Larnaca is known for its many coastal palms. Archaeological sites and numerous beaches attract modern visitors.

Cradle of Western civilization and home of democracy. Athens is filled with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments and remains an extremely popular tourist destination.

Known to the ancient Greeks as Baktr, modern-day Balkh is located in northern Afghanistan and is often referred to as the [mother of Arab cities]. The peak of development occurs in the years between 2500 BC. and 1900 BC before the rise of the Persian Empire and Mediana. Modern Balkh is the center of the region's cotton industry.

Located about 150 miles north of Baghdad, Kirkuk stands on the site of the ancient Assyrian capital of Arrapha. Its strategic importance was recognized by the Babylonians and Media, who tried to control the city. The ruins of a 5,000-year-old citadel are still visible, and the city is currently the headquarters of Iraq's oil industry.

To the north of Kirkuk lies Erbil, which was a possession at different times: Assyrians, Persians, Sassanids, Arabs and Turks. It was the main [stop] on the Silk Road. The ancient 26-meter citadel still dominates the horizon.

The legendary homeland of Europe and Dido, Tire was founded around 2750 BC, according to the description of Herodotus. It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. after seven months of siege and became a Roman province in 64 BC. Today tourism is the city's main industry: World Heritage (UNESCO) Roman Hippodrome.

Jerusalem is the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the third holy city of Islam. The city is home to several important religious sites, including the Omar Mosque, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and al-Aksu. During its history, the city was besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, captured 44 times and destroyed twice.

The capital of Lebanon, as well as its cultural, administrative and economic center, Beirut is rooted in history for 5,000 years. During excavations in the city, monuments of the Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman eras were found; there is evidence that the city was mentioned in the letters of the pharaoh of Egypt already in the 14th century BC. After graduation civil war in Lebanon, Beirut has come to life as a modern tourist attraction.

Built in the southern part of Turkey, near the border with Syria, Gaziantep dates back to the time of the Hittites. The fortress Ravanda was restored by the Byzantines in the 6th century and is located in the center of the city, where ancient Roman mosaics were discovered.

Also, three cities were founded around 4000 BC

The second largest city in Bulgaria, Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming the main city of the Roman Empire. It was later captured by the Byzantine and Ottoman empires before becoming part of Bulgaria. The city is a major cultural center and is famous for many ancient monuments, including the Roman amphitheater and aqueduct, as well as the Ottoman bath.

About 25 miles south of Beirut lies Sidon, one of the most important and perhaps the oldest Phoenician cities. It was the foundation from which the Phoenician Mediterranean empire grew. Both Jesus and Saint Paul, according to legend, visited Saida, as did Alexander the Great, who captured the city in 333 BC.

Fayum (El Fayum) is located southwest of Cairo, and most of it is Crocodilopolis, an ancient Egyptian city that worshiped Petsucho, the sacred crocodile. The modern city has several large bazaars, mosques and baths; nearby are the Lehin and Khavara pyramids.

Susa was the capital of the Elamite Empire until it was captured by the Assyrians. It was the subordination of the Achaemenid Persians to Cyrus the Great that took place, as Aeschylus and other ancient theatrical plays write about in his tragedies. The modern city of Shush has about 65 thousand population.

3rd and 4th placesthe two ancient cities were divided between themselves around 4300 BC.

There are some sources that Damascus is the oldest city on Earth, founded more than 12 thousand years ago. It became a large and important settlement after the arrival of the Arameans, who created a network of water canals. Damascus was at various times ruled by Alexander the Great, Rome, Arabs and Ottomans. Today, its rich historical heritage has made the city one of the most popular tourist destinations.

The most populous city in Syria with about 4.4 million inhabitants, Aleppo was founded as Halab in about 4300 BC. The city was under the control of the Hittites, then as part of the Assyrian, Greek and Persian empires. Later it was captured by the Romans, the Byzantines by the Arabs, was besieged by the Crusaders, and then fell under the rule of the Mongols and Turks.

Founded by the Phoenicians as Gebal. The name Byblos (Byblos) received from the Greeks, who imported papyrus from the city. By the way, the modern word [Bible] comes from the name of the city. The main tourist sites are ancient Phoenician temples, the castle of St. John the Baptist and the medieval city wall.

The oldest city inhabited at the moment. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a settlement dating back to 11000 BC. The city is located on the West Bank of the Jordan River, and today it is home to about 20 thousand people.

That's all! Basta, little kids, the dancing is over :)

Incredible facts

Cities that have stood the test of time have more than just the scars of history.

They talk about the positive and negative impact of human civilization.

The oldest cities in the world boast beautiful architecture and amazing stories, although surprisingly few ancient cities survive to this day.

1. Damascus, Syria

Damascus is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world with signs of habitat dating back 11,000 years. Its location and stability allowed the city to become a connecting link for the coming and gone civilizations. Today, about 2.5 million people live in its metropolitan area and in 2008 it was named the Arab Capital of Culture.

2. Jericho, West Bank

Fortifications discovered at Jericho that date back to 6800 BC. confirm that it is the earliest known walled city, and evidence of human habitation in this area dates back to 11,000, which means that it is a serious contender for the title of the oldest city in the world. It sounds incredible, but Jericho has remained inhabited and rather dry throughout its history, despite its location well below sea level. This fact contributed to the fact that the city became the lowest permanently inhabited place on Earth. Today Jericho has become home to 20,000 people.

3. Aleppo, Syria

Evidence of settlement of Aleppo dates back 8,000 years, but excavations 25 km north of the city show that the area was inhabited 13,000 years ago. This means that Aleppo and its surroundings are the oldest known human settlements in the world. The city was first mentioned in cuneiform tablets some 5,000 years ago, where its commercial and military knowledge is mentioned. Since it was located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, being at the end of the Silk Road that passed through Central Asia and Mesopotamia, Aleppo was the center of the ancient world. Today it is the largest city in Syria.

4. Athens, Greece

The oldest center of philosophy and birthplace of Western civilization, Athens boasts a history of settlement that dates back to the times of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The city has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years. The earliest presence of man in Athens dates back to the period between 11 and 7 thousand years BC. Today it remains a sprawling metropolis, and its Acropolis still stands, towering over the landscape.

5. Argos, Greece

As an urban settlement for at least the last 7,000 years, Argos is competing with Athens for the title of the oldest city in Europe. The city has always been powerful, and its dominant position in the fertile plains of Argolis has earned it a strong position, although there are periods of neutrality in its history. For example, the city refused to fight or send supplies during the Greco-Roman wars. Perhaps for this reason, the city has stood the test of time.

6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement known as Philippopolis in Greek and was the largest city for the Romans. For some time the Ottomans also ruled here. This beautiful city has a rich history dating back millennia. Evidence for a settlement dates back over 6,000 years. Today it is still the second largest city in Bulgaria and remains an important economic, cultural and educational center.

7. Byblos, Lebanon

Despite the fact that there is evidence of settlement as early as 7,000 years ago, Byblos has been a continuous city for about 5,000 years. According to the ancient writer Philo of Byblos, in ancient times the city was the oldest city in the world. Interestingly, the word Bible comes from "Byblos" (Bible), since it was through the Bible that the papyrus was imported into Greece.

8. Sidon, Lebanon

Inhabited for at least 6,000 years, Sidon was one of the most important Phoenician cities due to its location as a key port in the Mediterranean, being literally a gateway to great empires including Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Ottoman. Today it is home to about 200,000 people.

9. Ray, Iran

Located in the Greater Tehran metropolitan area, Rey has evidence of settlement dating back 8000 years, although it has likely been continuously inhabited for about 5000 or 6000 years. The city has preserved valuable historical monuments such as the Herbie Tower, which is about 3000 years old. For the Zoroastrians, it was a deeply sacred city.

10. Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is one of several cities that emerged between 4000-5000 years ago in the thriving Levant region, and it holds a unique place in history as a nexus of several of the world's greatest religions. Unfortunately, the old city has been added to the World Heritage List, which are in danger due to modern urban development, tourism and cultural upheaval.

11. Luoyang, China

Several ancient cities were built about 4000 years ago in the Middle East and Europe, but Luoyang stands out from this time period as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Asia. Located in the central plain of China, Luoyang is considered the oldest city in the country and one of the Seven Great Ancient Capitals of China. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic era, with a continuous population of at least 4000 years. It is located at the intersection of the Luohe and Yi rivers and is considered the geographical center of ancient China.

12. Varnasi, India

According to Hindu legend, Varnasi is over 5000 years old and is considered one of the oldest cities in the world, although evidence of habitation dates back to 3000 years. This data suggests that Varnasi is one of the many ancient cities that emerged around the first millennium BC, and is the oldest city in India and the most sacred city for the Hindus. Its location on the banks of the sacred river Ganges also enhances its importance, and it is an important pilgrimage site.

The list of the oldest cities in the world includes settlements in which people have permanently lived from ancient times to the present day. It is rather difficult to determine which of them appeared earlier, since in scientific circles it is customary to distinguish between the concepts of "urban-type settlement" and "city".

For example, Byblos was already inhabited in the 17th century. BC e., but the status of the city received only in the III century. BC NS. For this reason, there is no single point of view on the question of whether it can be considered the oldest in the world. Jericho and Damascus are in the same ambiguous position.

In addition to the top three, there are other ancient cities in the world. They are located all over the world.

The oldest cities in East Asia

The most ancient cities East Asia, Beijing and Xian are located in China. This country rightfully belongs to the most ancient civilizations in the world. There are practically no dark spots in its history, since it is recorded in written sources, so it is relatively easy to establish the dates of the founding of settlements.

Beijing

Beijing is the capital and largest political, educational and cultural center of the People's Republic of China. Its original name is literally translated into Russian as "Northern Capital". This phrase corresponds to the status of the city and its location today.

The first cities in the area of modern Beijing appeared in the 1st century. BC NS. At first, the capital of the Yan kingdom - Ji (473-221 BC) was located there, then the Liao empire established its southern capital on this place - Nanjing (938). In 1125, the city passed into the jurisdiction of the Jin Jin Empire and was named "Zhongdu".

In the XIII century, after the Mongols burned the settlement and it was rebuilt, the city received two names at once: "Dadu" and "Khanbalik". The first is in Chinese, the second is in Mongolian. It is the second option that is reflected in the records of Marco Polo, left after his trip to China.

Beijing received its modern name only in 1421. Historians believe that in the period from the IV to the beginning of the XIX century. it was one of the largest cities in the world. During this time, it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, deprived of the status of the capital, and then returned it. Empires also changed, under the possession of which the old settlement fell, but people continued to live there.

The current population of Beijing is nearly 22 million. 95% of them are indigenous Chinese, the remaining 5% are Mongols, Chzhuers, Huis. This number includes only people who have a residence permit in the city, but there are also those who came to work. The official language is Chinese.

The city is considered a cultural and educational center. There are many architectural monuments, museums, parks and gardens. There are more than 50 higher educational institutions, within the walls of which Russian citizens receive education. Nightlife lovers will not be bored either - the capital of the PRC has several districts with popular nightlife bars.

The main attractions of Beijing:

Entertaining facts about the capital of the PRC:

The government spent $ 44 billion on preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. This is by far the largest spending on a sporting event in the world.
There are 980 buildings on the territory of the Forbidden City, according to researchers, all of them are divided into 9999 rooms.
The Beijing Metro is considered the second longest in the world.

The northern capital of the PRC does not claim to be the most ancient city in the world, but the history of its formation is still of interest to scientists.

Xi'an

Xi'an is a city of the People's Republic of China located in the Shaanxi province. It is over 3 thousand years old. For some time it was considered one of the largest in the world in terms of area and number of inhabitants.

In the II century. BC NS. the Great Silk Road ran through the city. At that time, he was called "Chang'an", which translates as "long peace."

Like Beijing, the city was destroyed several times during the war, and then rebuilt. The name has also changed several times. The modern version took root in 1370.

According to 2006 data, more than 7 million people live in Xi'an. By a government decree in 1990, the city was transformed into a cultural, educational and industrial center. The largest aircraft manufacturing center is located here.

Attractions in Xi'an:

Interesting Facts about the administrative center of Shaanxi province:

Xi'an remained the capital of China during 13 consecutive imperial dynasties. This is the longest period.
Here is the city wall, which is more than 3 thousand years old. For such a period, it is quite well preserved.
During the reign of the Tang dynasty (VII-IX centuries), the city was the most populated in the world.

Xi'an has long ceased to be the de facto capital of the PRC, but thanks to its rich history spanning several centuries, it continues to be the main cultural center.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

In the Middle East, there are three ancient cities at once: Balkh, Luxor and El-Fayum. The researchers concluded that they were all founded not earlier than the 1st century. BC NS. They are of both historical and cultural interest.

Balkh

Balkh is a city located in the province of the same name in Pakistan. It is believed to have been founded in 1500 BC. NS. during the resettlement of Indo-Iranians from the Amu Darya region.

During the heyday of the Silk Road, its population reached 1 million, now this figure has dropped significantly. According to 2006 data, only 77 thousand people live in the city.

Until the beginning of the Hellenistic era, the city was considered the largest spiritual center. According to legend, it was there that Zarathustra was born - the founder of Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religious teachings in the world.

In 1933 Balkh became one of the 3 Afghan cities in which Jews were allowed to live. It was forbidden to leave the settlement without an urgent need. A kind of Jewish ghetto was formed here because the representatives of this people preferred to settle separately from the rest. As of 2000, the Jewish community in the city has disintegrated.

Sights:

Tomb of Khoja Parsa;
Madrasah of Said Subkhankulikhan;
Tomb of Robiai Balkhi;
Masjidi Nuh Gumbad.

Interesting facts about the city:

In 1220 Balkh was destroyed by Genghis Khan and lay in ruins for almost a century and a half.
The first Jewish community in the city was founded in 568 BC. e., there, as the legend says, the Jews expelled from Jerusalem settled there.
The main local attraction, the Green Mosque or the Tomb of Khoja Parsa, was built in the 15th century.

Currently, this settlement is considered a major center of the textile industry.

Luxor

Luxor is a city located in the territory of Upper Egypt. Part of it lies on the east bank of the Nile. Was known as "Wasset" in ancient world... It occupies the place where, according to historical data, was the capital of Ancient Egypt - Thebes. 5 centuries have passed since its foundation. It is considered the largest open-air museum, therefore it is currently a tourist center.

Luxor is conventionally subdivided into two districts - "City of the Living" and "City of the Dead". Most of the people live in the first district, in the second, due to the huge number of historical monuments, there are practically no settlements.

According to 2012 data, the population of Luxor is 506 thousand people. Almost all of them are Arabs by nationality.

Sights:

Interesting Facts:

in 1997, members of the Islamist group Al-Gama'a-Al-Islamiya staged the so-called Luxor massacre in the city, during which 62 tourists were killed;
in summer, the temperature reaches + 50 ° C in the shade;
at one time the city was called "the hundred-fold Thebes".

Now Luxor receives its main income from tourists.

El-Fayyum

El-Fayyum is a city in Middle Egypt. Located in the oasis of the same name. The Libyan Desert lies around it. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the city was founded more in the IV century. BC NS. Its modern name comes from the Coptic language and means "lake" in translation.

The city was the administrative center in Ancient egypt... At that time he bore the name Shedet, which literally translates as "sea". The settlement received such a name due to the fact that on its territory there was an artificial Lake Merida, in the waters of which crocodiles were bred to honor Egyptian god Sebek.

In historical documents, the city is also found under the name Crocodilopolis.

Currently, the population of El-Fayum is about 13 thousand people. The city is an agricultural center. Olives, grapes, sugarcane, dates, rice, corn are grown on its fields. It also produces rose oil.

The city's attractions:

Interesting facts about El-Fayyum:

the national symbol of the province in which the city is located - 4 water wheels;
the Catholic Church currently believes that it has no power over the city, although it was once a religious center;
Lake Merida was dug almost 4 centuries ago.

It was in El-Fayyum that funeral portraits dating from the 1st-3rd centuries were found for the first time. In honor of the city, they were named "Fayum".

The oldest cities in Europe

The oldest city in the world, if we consider the European part of it, is Athens. Its name is known to every person. But there are other ancient settlements in Europe, for example, Mantua and Plovdiv, which are far from so famous.

Athens

Athens is one of the most famous and oldest cities in Greece, the capital of the state. It was founded around the 7th century. BC NS. The first written records that were discovered there date back to 1600 BC. e., but it is known for certain that people lived in Athens long before that time.

The settlement got its name in honor of its patroness - the goddess of war and wisdom Athena. In the V century. BC NS. it became a city-state. It was there that the model of a democratic society first appeared, which is still considered ideal.

Such famous philosophers and writers as Sophocles, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides, Plato were born in Athens. The ideas highlighted in their works are relevant to this day.

As of 2011, the population in Athens has reached 3 million people, which is about a third of the total population of Greece.

The city center, where the Athenian Acropolis was once located, is now a favorite tourist destination. Most of the ancient buildings were wiped off the face of the earth by time and wars, and modern multi-storey buildings were built in their place. Here is one of the largest European higher educational institutions - the Athens Polytechnic University.

Sights:

Interesting Facts:

the most popular sports in Athens are basketball and football;
in Greek the city is called “Athena”, not “Athens;
the settlement is considered the birthplace of the theater.

Now in the capital of Greece, there are many museums, where you can get acquainted with the unique monuments of fine art dating back to the II-III centuries. BC NS.

Mantua

Mantua is an Italian city founded in the 6th century. BC NS. It is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Mincio River, which is quite unusual, since builders usually try to avoid swampy areas.

For a long time, Mantua was considered a city of arts. It was here that the famous artist Rubens began his career - the author of the paintings "Entombment", "Hercules and Omphale", "Exaltation of the Cross". In the XVII-XVIII centuries. from a haven of cultural figures, the city was retrained into an impregnable bastion.

The population of Mantua, according to data for 2004, was 48 thousand people. Currently, the city is a tourist center, as it has preserved many architectural monuments from different centuries.

Sights:

Interesting Facts:

in one of the suburbs of Mantua was born Virgil - the creator of the "Aeneid", one of the most famous ancient Roman poets;
in 1739, Charles de Brosse, a French historian, wrote that the city can only be approached from one side, since it is surrounded by swamps;
the historic center of Mantua is a World Heritage Site of Humanity.

The patron saint of the city is Saint Anselm, who has not been officially canonized. The day of his memory falls on March 18. At the same time, residents celebrate the City Day.

Plovdiv

The oldest city in the world, located on the territory of modern Europe, according to the historian Dennis Rodwell, is Plovdiv. It is now considered the second largest in Bulgaria. Once the city bore the names "Philippopolis and" Filibe ". The first settlements on its territory appeared in the 6th century. BC e., in the Neolithic era.

At the start of World War II, the city took center stage in organizing support for the alliance between the USSR and Bulgaria. In 1941 the city was occupied by the Germans, as Bulgaria entered into an alliance with Germany. However, the resistance of the residents was not completely suppressed. A reconnaissance group operated in the city; in February 1943 it was defeated.

Plovdiv is currently the second most populous city in Bulgaria. It is home to 367 thousand people. The city has a developed industry: agricultural, food, clothing, nonferrous metallurgy. It also houses the country's only plant producing cigarette filters and paper.

Sights:

Fun facts:

in Plovdiv there is a whole street with workshops owned by hereditary artisans;
every year the International Plovdiv Fair is held here, which is popular throughout Europe;
Bulgarian astronomer, Violetta Ivanova, discovered an asteroid, which she named after the city.

An international boxing championship is held annually in Plovdiv.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

In the Middle East, there are two settlements at once, claiming the title of the oldest city in the world - Byblos and Jericho.

Byblos

Byblos is an ancient Phoenician city located on the territory of modern Lebanon, near the Mediterranean Sea. It is currently called Jebeil.

Historical finds indicate that Byblos was inhabited as early as the 7th century. BC e., in the Neolithic era. But the city was recognized only after 4 centuries. And in the ancient era it was considered the most ancient settlement, but now its status is controversial.

The oldest city in the world, according to some scholars, - Byblos is located on a well-protected hill, around which there is a lot of fertile soil, so this place was inhabited in the Neolithic era. But, for some unknown reason, by the arrival of the Phoenicians in the IV century. BC NS. there were no residents left there, so the newcomers did not have to fight for the territory.

In the ancient world, the specialization of the city was the papyrus trade. From its name came the words "byblos" (translated as "papyrus") and "bible" (translated as "book").

Currently, Byblos is home to only 3 thousand people. Most of them adhere to Catholic and Muslim religious views. The city is one of the main tourist centers in Lebanon.

Sights:

Interesting Facts:

the biblical alphabet has not yet been deciphered, since there are too few inscriptions on it, and there are no analogues in the world;
Egyptian language long time was official in the city;
Egyptian myths say that it was in the Bible that the goddess Isis found the body of Osiris in a wooden box.

The city is located 32 km. from the current capital of Lebanon - Beirut.

Jericho

The oldest city in the world, according to most scholars, is Jericho. The first traces of habitation that were discovered there date back to the 9th century. BC NS. The oldest city fortifications that were discovered were built at the end of the 7th century. BC NS.

Jericho is located in the territory of modern Palestine, in the region of the western bank of the Jordan River. He is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible, and not only under his original name but also as a "city of palm trees".

In the middle of the XIX century. excavations began on a hill near the Jordan River, the purpose of which was to search for the ancient remains of Jericho. The first attempts were unsuccessful. But at the beginning of the 20th century, the hill was completely excavated.

It turned out that in its depth lay layers of architectural structures belonging to 7 different time periods. After repeated destruction, the city gradually moved to the south, which is why this phenomenon arose. The population of modern Jericho is only 20 thousand inhabitants.

The city, which is considered the oldest in the world, has been closed to the public since 2000, after armed uprisings in Palestinian territory. In exceptional cases, the authorities of the Israeli army give tourists the go-ahead to visit.

Sights:

the ruins of ancient Jericho;
Forty-day mountain;
the tree of Zacchaeus.

Interesting Facts:

in Hebrew the name of the city sounds like "Yeriho", and in Arabic - "Erich";
this is one of the oldest settlements in which people lived continuously;
Jericho is mentioned not only in the Bible, but also in the works of Flavius, Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny - all of them are ancient Roman writers and scientists.

Supporters of the separation of the concepts of "city" and "urban settlement" believe that only Damascus, the capital of modern Syria, can compete with Jericho in age.

What is the oldest city in Russia?

Until 2014, Derbent, located in the southern part of the Republic of Dagestan, was considered the most ancient city in Russia. The first mentions of a settlement on its territory date back to the 6th century. BC NS. The city itself was founded in the 5th century. n. NS.

In 2017, after joining Crimean peninsula, Kerch began to be considered the oldest city in Russia. On its territory were discovered sites dating back to the VIII century. BC NS. The first settlement appeared in the 7th century. BC NS. And the city itself was founded around the 3rd century. BC NS.

For the first time in the Russian Empire Kerch entered at the end of the 8th century. as a result Russo-Turkish War... At this time, shells and limestone were actively mined there for construction needs. By the beginning of the XX century. iron ore deposits were discovered under the city, which played a large role in the economic development of the city.

Currently, the population of Kerch is 150 thousand people. Tourists often come to the city, as it is located at the junction of the Azov and Black Seas. Also, the city continues to be one of the largest shipbuilding and metal foundry centers.

Sights:

Tsarsky burial mound;
Tiritaka;
Yeni-Kale fortress;
Merimekei;
Nymph.

Interesting Facts:

Although it is difficult to assign the title of the oldest city in the world to just one locality, scientists were able to identify several leaders: Jericho, Byblos and Damascus.

Jericho currently occupies the leading position, but other cities deserve no less interest.

Article formatting: Vladimir the Great

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