What is the most ancient city in the world. The most ancient cities

Cities are like people: they are born, live and die. But their age can be thousands of years. But, like people, not everyone achieves success. Some cities that were previously large settlements are degenerating into tiny villages, others are becoming completely deserted. But sometimes they get lucky and remain truly active cities for thousands of years. And the most ancient cities have been inhabited not even for hundreds, but for thousands of years.

Surely you have heard about the city of Jericho, its walls and the pipes that destroyed them. About Joshua's war with this city, during which he massacred all the inhabitants except one family. In the Bible, this settlement is mentioned many times; it is not surprising that many consider this city to be exceptionally legendary.

But it actually exists, and is the oldest city in the world. Large locality it became around the third millennium BC, that is, people have been constantly living in it for more than 50,000 years. It remained intermittently for even longer, from about the ninth millennium BC, that is, another 6000 years. Today it is the capital of one of the provinces in the Palestinian territory.

During this time, the city saw everything: the emergence and collapse of civilizations, the emergence of new religions and the death of old ones, new inventions and breakthroughs... If stones could talk, then Jericho would become best teacher stories. But, alas, they are silent...

If Damascus is younger than Jericho, it is not by much - only 500 years. The first mention of it as a city dates back to 2500 BC. But as a settlement it appeared much earlier - 10-11 thousand years ago. Today it has become the capital of Syria, despite being the second largest. But that doesn't stop him from being cultural capital Promised Land. In addition, it is considered one of the cultural heritage sites and is included in the UNESCO lists as being in danger of destruction.

Rounding out the top three ancient cities world Bible Despite the fact that the city still lives and lives in this same place, it bears a different name - Jbeil. However, foreigners always called him Byblos (or Byblos). Through this large port they exported many goods, including papyrus. Therefore, its Greek name, like the word “book” itself, came from this locality.

This settlement appeared about four thousand years ago.

Today this Lebanese city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it is practically a monument of history and architecture.

Susa

This Iranian city is rightfully considered one of the oldest on earth; it appeared about 7 thousand years ago, becoming a place of permanent settlement for a fairly large number of people. He remains so now. Susa has seen dozens of civilizations and has been the capital of states more than once. Now it is a relatively small settlement, home to about 60-70 thousand people, mainly Persian Jews and Shiite Arabs.

Derbent is the most ancient city Russia. This monument to the history of Dagestan is located. Its name translates as “closed gate,” which is no coincidence - it has become a kind of Caspian gate (it is located on a narrow passage between the Caucasus mountains and the Caspian Sea). It is not surprising that an active city grew and constantly existed on this site. By official versions, it appeared about six thousand years ago, in the Bronze Age.

Saida

Lebanon is generally lucky with ancient cities, and Saida is one of them. As shown historical research, it appeared as a city around 4000 thousand years BC. But archaeologists claim that people periodically appeared on its territory long before this, already in the tenth millennium BC. In the Bible he was called "the firstborn of Canaan", hinting at his antiquity. Historians claim that it was from this city that the culture of Phenicia, one of the largest civilizations of the ancient world, grew.

Faiyum

Egyptian civilization is considered one of the most ancient, but the city belonging to it appeared on our list only now. On the other hand, it is difficult to talk about the age of such cities, because there are no exact dates, there are only approximate data. So the foundation of Fayum is attributed to the same fourth millennium BC as Saidu, and it is quite difficult to say which of them is older. It is located in the Egyptian region under the funny name Crocodilopolis, which appeared due to the cult of the god with a crocodile head - Petsuchos.

Bulgaria can boast of more than one ancient city, but Plovdiv is the best of them. He is a kind of contemporary of the already mentioned Fayyum and Saida; the fourth millennium BC turned out to be quite productive. Now it has become the second largest settlement in Bulgaria and a major cultural center. History and architecture especially flourish here, which is not surprising, given the number of picturesque ruins and ancient buildings.

We hope that after reading this article, you have a better idea of ​​which city in the world appeared first. At the same time, it is worth noting that today we talked about those settlements that remain active from the moment of their appearance to the present day. After all, a city remains a city as long as people live in it, without them it becomes ruins.

Many ancient cities lay claim to the right to be called the first city on Earth. But first of all, this definition refers to Jericho - an oasis near the place where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. The city of Jericho, widely known in the Bible, is located here - the same one whose walls once fell from the sound of the trumpets of Joshua.

According to biblical tradition, the Israelites began the conquest of Canaan from Jericho and, after the death of Moses, under the leadership of Joshua, crossing the Jordan, they stood at the walls of this city. The townspeople, hiding behind the city walls, were convinced that the city was impregnable. But the Israelis used an extraordinary military stratagem. They walked around the city walls in a silent crowd six times, and on the seventh they shouted in unison and blew the trumpets, so loudly that the formidable walls collapsed. This is where the expression “trumpet of Jericho” comes from.

Jericho is fed by the water of the powerful spring Ain es-Sultan (“Source of the Sultan”), to which the city owes its origin. The Arabs call the name of this source a hill north of modern Jericho - Tell es-Sultan (“Mountain of the Sultan”). Already at the end XIX century it attracted the attention of archaeologists and is still considered one of most important places archaeological finds of objects from the early historical period.

In 1907 and 1908, a group of German and Austrian researchers led by Professors Ernst Sellin and Karl Watzinger began excavations at Mount Sultana for the first time. They came across two parallel fortress walls, built from sun-dried bricks. The outer wall had a thickness of 2 m and a height of 8-10 m, and the thickness of the inner wall reached 3.5 m.

Archaeologists have determined that these walls were built between 1400 and 1200 BC. e. It is clear that they were quickly identified with those walls that, as the Bible reports, collapsed from the powerful sounds of the trumpets of the Israelite tribes. However, during the excavations, archaeologists came across a layer of construction debris that was of even greater interest to science than the finds that confirmed the Bible’s information about the war. But the first World War suspended further scientific research.

More than twenty years passed before a group of Englishmen led by Professor John Garstang was able to continue their research. New excavations began in 1929 and lasted about ten years. 1935–1936. Garstang had encountered the lowest layers of a Stone Age settlement. He discovered a cultural layer older than the 5th millennium BC. e., dating back to a time when people did not yet know pottery. But people of this era already led a sedentary lifestyle.

The work of the Garstang expedition was interrupted due to difficult political situation. And only after the end of World War II did English archaeologists return to Jericho. This time the expedition was led by Dr. Kathleen M. Canyon, with whose activities all further discoveries in this ancient city in the world are associated. To participate in the excavations, the British invited German anthropologists who had been working in Jericho for several years.

In 1953, archaeologists led by Kathleen Canyon managed to make an outstanding discovery that completely changed our understanding of early history humanity. Researchers made their way through 40 (!) cultural layers and discovered buildings of the Neolithic period with huge buildings dating back to the time when, it would seem, only nomadic tribes should have lived on Earth, earning their food by hunting and collecting plants and fruits. The results of excavations showed that approximately 10 thousand years ago a qualitative leap was made in the eastern Mediterranean associated with the transition to the artificial cultivation of cereals. This led to drastic changes in culture and lifestyle.

The discovery of early agricultural Jericho was an archeological sensation in the 1950s. Systematic excavations here revealed a whole series of successive layers, united into two complexes - pre-ceramic Neolithic A (8th millennium BC) and pre-ceramic Neolithic B (7th millennium BC). Today, Jericho A is considered the first urban settlement discovered in the Old World. Here are found the earliest permanent structures known to science, burials and sanctuaries, built from earth or small round unbaked bricks.

The pre-ceramic Neolithic settlement A occupied an area of ​​about 4 hectares and was surrounded by a powerful defensive wall made of stone. Adjacent to it was a massive round stone tower. Initially, researchers assumed that this was a tower of a fortress wall. But obviously, it was not a special-purpose structure that combined many functions, including the function of a guard post to monitor the surrounding area.

Protected by a stone wall, there were round, tent-like houses on stone foundations with walls made of mud brick, one surface of which was convex (this type of brick is called "pork's back"). To more accurately determine the age of these structures, the latest scientific methods, for example, the radiocarbon (radiocarbon) method. Nuclear physicists, when studying isotopes, found that it is possible to determine the age of objects by the ratio of radioactive and stable carbon isotopes. Through sounding, it was established that the oldest walls of this city date back to the 8th millennium, that is, their age is approximately 10 thousand years. The sanctuary discovered as a result of excavations was even more ancient - 9551 BC. e.

There is no doubt that Jericho A, with its settled population and developed construction industry, was one of the first early agricultural settlements on Earth. Based on many years of research conducted here, historians have received absolutely new picture development and technical capabilities that humanity had 10 thousand years ago. The transformation of Jericho from a small primitive settlement with miserable huts and huts into a real city with an area of ​​at least 3 hectares and a population of more than 2000 people is associated with the transition of the local population from simple gathering of edible cereals to agriculture - growing wheat and barley. At the same time, researchers have established that this revolutionary step was taken not as a result of some kind of introduction from the outside, but was the result of the development of the tribes living here: archaeological excavations of Jericho showed that in the period between the culture of the original settlement and the culture of the new city, which was built at the turn 9th and 8th millennia BC e., life here did not stop.

At first, the town was not fortified, but with the advent of strong neighbors, fortress walls became necessary to protect against attacks. The appearance of fortifications speaks not only of the confrontation between different tribes, but also of the accumulation by the inhabitants of Jericho of certain material values ​​that attracted the greedy gaze of their neighbors. What were these values? Archaeologists have answered this question as well. Probably, the main source of income for the townspeople was barter trade: a well-located city controlled the main resources of the Dead Sea - salt, bitumen and sulfur. Obsidian, jade and diorite from Anatolia, turquoise from the Sinai Peninsula, and cowrie shells from the Red Sea were found in the ruins of Jericho - all of these goods were highly valued during the Neolithic period.

The fact that Jericho was a powerful urban center is evidenced by its defensive fortifications. Without the use of picks and hoes, a ditch 8.5 m wide and 2.1 m deep was cut into the rock. Behind the ditch there was a stone wall 1.64 m thick, preserved to a height of 3.94 m. Its original height probably reached 5 m. and above there was a masonry of mud bricks.

The excavations revealed a large round stone tower with a diameter of 7 m, preserved to a height of 8.15 m, with an internal staircase carefully constructed from single meter-wide stone slabs. The tower contained grain storage and clay-lined cisterns to collect rainwater.

The stone tower of Jericho was probably built at the beginning of the 8th millennium BC. e. and lasted for a very long time for a long time. When it ceased to be used for its intended purpose, crypts for burials began to be built in its internal passage, and the former storage facilities were used as dwellings. These premises were often rebuilt. One of them, which died in a fire, dates back to 6935 BC. After this, archaeologists counted four more periods of existence in the history of the tower, and then the city wall collapsed and began to erode. Apparently, the city was already deserted at this time.

The construction of a powerful defensive system required an enormous amount of labor, the use of significant work force and the presence of some central authority to organize and direct the work. Researchers estimate the population of this first city in the world to be two thousand people, and this figure may be underestimated.

What did these first citizens of the Earth look like and how did they live? An analysis of the skulls and bone remains found in Jericho showed that 10 thousand years ago, short people - just over 150 cm - with elongated skulls (dolichocephalians), who belonged to the so-called Euro-African race, lived here. They built oval-shaped dwellings from lumps of clay, the floors of which were recessed below ground level. The house was entered through a doorway with wooden jambs. There were several steps leading down. Most houses consisted of a single round or oval room with a diameter of 4–5 m, covered with a vault of interlocking rods. The ceiling, walls and floor were covered with clay. The floors in the houses were carefully leveled, sometimes painted and polished.

The inhabitants of ancient Jericho used stone and bone tools, did not know ceramics and ate wheat and barley, the grains of which were ground on stone grain grinders with stone pestles. From rough food, which consisted of cereals and legumes ground in stone mortars, these people's teeth were completely worn out. Despite a more comfortable habitat than that of primitive hunters, their life was extremely difficult, and average age the inhabitants of Jericho did not exceed 20 years of age. Infant mortality was very high, and only a few lived to be 40–45 years old. There were obviously no people older than this age in ancient Jericho.

The townspeople buried their dead right under the floors of their homes, wearing iconic plaster masks with cowrie shells inserted into the eyes of the masks on their skulls. It is curious that in ancient graves Jericho (6500 BC) archaeologists mostly find headless skeletons. Apparently, the skulls were separated from the corpses and buried separately. The cultic beheading is known in many parts of the world and has been practiced down to our time. Here, in Jericho, scientists apparently encountered one of the earliest manifestations of this cult.

During this “pre-ceramic” period, the inhabitants of Jericho did not use earthenware - they replaced it with stone vessels, carved mainly from limestone. Probably, the townspeople also used all kinds of wickerwork and leather containers like wineskins. Not knowing how to sculpt pottery, the ancient inhabitants of Jericho at the same time sculpted animal figures and other images from clay. In residential buildings and tombs of Jericho, many clay figurines of animals were found, as well as stucco images of the phallus. Cult masculinity was widespread in ancient Palestine, its images are also found in other places.

In one of the layers of Jericho, archaeologists discovered a kind of ceremonial hall with six wooden pillars. It was probably a sanctuary - a primitive predecessor of the future temple. Inside this room and in its immediate vicinity, archaeologists did not find any household items, but they found numerous clay figurines of animals - horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and models of male genital organs.

The most amazing discovery in Jericho was the stucco figurines of people. They are made from local limestone clay called "hawara" with a reed frame. These figurines are of normal proportions, but flat in front. Nowhere, except for Jericho, have such figurines been encountered by archaeologists before. In one of the prehistoric layers of Jericho, group sculptures of men, women and children were also found life size. They were made using cement-like clay, which was spread on a reed frame. These figures were still very primitive and flat: after all, plastic art was preceded for many centuries cave drawings or images on cave walls. The figures found show how much interest the inhabitants of Jericho showed in the miracle of the origin of life and the creation of a family,” this was one of the first and most powerful impressions of prehistoric man.

The appearance of Jericho - the first urban center - indicates the emergence tall forms public organization. Even the invasion of more backward tribes from the north in the 5th millennium BC could not interrupt this process, which ultimately led to the creation of highly developed ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Middle East.

On this day:

• Days of death
• 1886 Died Friedrich Samoilovich Bayern- Russian naturalist and archaeologist, researcher of the Samtavra burial ground in the Caucasus.
• 1960 Died: Leading English archaeologist of the first half of the 20th century; conducted excavations of monuments material culture Sumer, Ancient Egypt, Syria, Nubia, ancient Anatolia, explorer Ur.
• 1963 Died Konstantin Mikhailovich Polikarpovich- Belarusian Soviet scientist-archaeologist, founder of the study of the Stone Age in the Upper Dnieper region.

The oldest cities in the world still exist today. These settlements have passed what is called the test of time.

History can be surprisingly unpredictable, but some of its monuments have been unshakable for several thousand years. Here is a list of the most ancient cities in the world that did not fall into decay and were not lost over the years, but were constantly inhabited by people. Find out which cities of the East, Europe and Asia are not only considered the oldest, but are still inhabited! You might also be interested in which civilization is considered the most ancient.

The most ancient cities of East Asia

Beijing

Ancient name the current capital of China is Ji. The city, founded in 1045 BC, was the capital of the feudal principality of Yan for almost two thousand years, until in 938 AD. the Liao dynasty did not make it the second capital of Northern China. Beijing (also called Beijing and, subsequently, Beiping) was the most important state center in the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing eras, and retained this status after the formation of New China. By the way, it was in the vicinity of Beijing that the remains of Sinanthropus, the so-called “Beijing man,” whose age dates back to approximately 600 thousand years, were found.

Sian

For 3,100 years, Xi'an (ancient names - Haojin, Chan-An), the most ancient city in China currently inhabited, was the capital of ten major dynasties. The major cultural and political center was also famous for its production of bronze objects; some products have survived to this day and are now exhibited in local museums. The Tang Dynasty died out in 907, after which the city slowly declined. Subsequently, he played an important role in the development of state trade, but never returned to its former greatness.

The most ancient cities of the Middle East

Balkh

This city, located in modern Afghanistan, is often called the cradle of three religions: Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Buddhism. Balkh is considered to be the birthplace of Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism - the most ancient religion in the world known to man.

Luxor

Approximately XXII-XX centuries BC. Luxor was the capital of Waset (the fourth nome of Ancient Egypt), then became the main city of the entire kingdom of Egypt and remained so until the 10th century BC. It is also known to historians under the Greek name Thebes.

El Fayoum

Another ancient Egyptian city appeared on the world map in the 4th millennium BC. Faiyum is located southwest of Cairo, on the territory of ancient Crocodilopolis. This unusual name settlement in honor of the cult of the sacred crocodile Petsuhos, who was worshiped local residents. Now the city is quite modern, here you can visit large bazaars, mosques, baths, as well as the pyramids of Hawara and Lekhin.

The most ancient cities in Europe

Athens

Exact date The founding of Athens is unknown. Written sources indicate that the states of the Ancient World knew about the existence of a settlement on the site of modern Athens already in 9600 BC. However, the city itself, which is rightly called the cradle Greek culture, arose only in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC.

Agros

The founding date of the city of Agros (Peloponnese) is conventionally considered to be 2000 BC. – the first evidence of its existence found by archaeologists dates back to this period. Perhaps his story goes back much deeper. According to the ancient Greek epic, Agros was adjacent to Mycenae and Tiryns, now in ruins.

Mantua

Mantua – small town in the Lombardy region, founded by the Etruscans and Gauls. For most of its history, Mantua was located on an island on the Mincio River. Subsequently, already in the Middle Ages, residents blocked the channel and turned the island into a peninsula. As a result, the city was surrounded by lakes on three sides. By the way, the ancient Roman poet Virgil was born in the vicinity of Mantua.

Plovdiv

The most ancient city in Europe is located in a picturesque place in southern Bulgaria, on the coast of the Maritsa River. Like Rome, it was built on seven hills - three of which can still be clearly distinguished today. Plovdiv was originally a small village called Tratian, which later became a major center of the Roman Empire. Before becoming part of Bulgaria, Plovdiv was also under the rule of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. Modern Plovdiv is a thriving city with a rich cultural and social life.

The most ancient cities of the Middle East

Bible

Once upon a time, on the site of modern Jebeil stood the ancient city of Byblos - the heart of all Mediterranean navigation, the largest exporter of papyrus to Hellas. In the sixth millennium BC, these places were chosen by nomadic tribes who made a living by fishing. After a couple of thousand years, the settlement, nicknamed by the inhabitants of Gubla, was overgrown with stone walls, and its inhabitants continued the traditions of their ancestors and turned the city into a prosperous harbor. In the 3rd millennium BC. Gubla passed into the possession of the Phoenicians - the sea people were attracted by its convenient location and developed water infrastructure. In the second millennium BC, the city acquired its own written language, which significantly increased its prosperity, which was entirely dependent on trade. And a little later he became the main exporter of papyrus to Greece. Papyrus in ancient Greek was known precisely as “byblos,” and the city, accordingly, began to be called the same.

Jericho

Jericho is considered the most ancient city in the world (meaning a settlement with fortified walls). Although the first human settlements arose here, on the west bank of the Jordan, back in the 8th millennium BC. The powerful walls of the Tower of Jericho still remind us of those times. According to biblical legend, the walls of this city fell in time immemorial from the sounds of Joshua's trumpet. During excavations, which began in earnest in the middle of the 20th century, archaeologists discovered as many as forty so-called “cultural layers” under these lands!

You can also find out about the most ancient city in Russia, its history and location on our website.
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For reference: in Europe, the oldest cities include Lisbon (about 1000 BC), Rome (753 BC), Corfu (about 700 BC), Mantua ( around 500 BC). For comparison: London was founded in 43 AD, Moscow no later than 1147, Kyiv around 880, my Vasilkov 988.

The Twenty Most Ancient Cities in the World Still Inhabited

Situated on the western 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 5,000 years ago, although modern scientists believe that the city is about 3,000 years old.

Built on a narrow strip of land jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Cadiz was the port of 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 a staging area for Hannibal's conquest of Iberia. Then it was in Roman and Moorish possession. Now it is experiencing a renaissance.

Around 1400 BC. three modern cities founded

A major rival of ancient Athens, Thebes was ruled by the Boeotian Confederacy and even assisted Xerxes during the Persian invasion in 480 BC. Today Thebes is little more than a city market.

Founded as China by the Phoenicians, Larnaca is famous for its numerous coastal palm trees. Archaeological sites and numerous beaches attract modern visitors.

The cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Athens is filled with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments and remains an extremely popular tourist city

Known to the ancient Greeks as Baktr, modern Balkh is located in Northern Afghanistan and is often called the “mother of Arab cities.” The peak of development occurs in the years between 2500 BC. and 1900 BC before the emergence of the Persian Empire and the Median. Modern Balkh is the center of the region's cotton industry.

Situated 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 the 5,000-year-old citadel are still visible, and the city is currently the headquarters of oil industry Iraq.

To the north of Kirkuk lies Erbil, which was once a possession of different time: Assyrians, Persians, Sasanians, Arabs and Turks. It was the main stop on the Silk Road. The ancient 26-meter high citadel still dominates the skyline.

The legendary birthplace of Europa 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 a seven-month 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 Mosque of Omar, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and al-Aqsa. 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 reaches back 5,000 years of history. During excavations in the city, monuments from the Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman eras were found; there is information that the city was mentioned in the letters of the Pharaoh of Egypt as early as the 14th century BC. After graduation civil war in Lebanon, Beirut has come to life and become a modern tourist attraction.

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

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 home to many ancient monuments, including a Roman amphitheater and aqueduct, and an Ottoman bath.

About 25 miles south of Beirut is Sidon, one of the most important and perhaps the oldest Phoenician cities. It was the basis from which the Mediterranean empire of the Phoenicians grew. Both Jesus and St. Paul are said to have visited Saida, as did Alexander the Great, who captured the city in 333 BC.

Faiyoum (El Fayoum) is located southwest of Cairo, and most of it is occupied by Crocodilopolis, an ancient Egyptian city that worshiped Petsuchos, the sacred crocodile. The modern city has several large bazaars, mosques and baths; nearby are the pyramids of Lekhin and Hawara.

Susa was the capital of the Elamite Empire until it was captured by the Assyrians. It was precisely the subjugation of the Achaemenid Persians by Cyrus the Great that took place, as Aeschylus and other ancients write about in their tragedies. theater plays. Modern city Shush has about 65 thousand population.

3rd and 4th placesdivided between two ancient cities around 4300 BC.

There is information from some sources that Damascus is the most ancient 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 under the rule of Alexander the Great, Rome, the Arabs and the Ottomans. Today it's rich historical heritage 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 around 4300 BC. The city was under the control of the Hittites, then under the Assyrian, Greek and Persian empires. It was later captured by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, 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, modern word[The Bible comes from the name of the city. The main tourist sites are the ancient Phoenician temples, the castle of St. John the Baptist and the medieval city wall.

The oldest city inhabited in currently. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a settlement dating back to 11,000 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! That's it, little ones, the dancing is over :)

Not all cities are lucky enough to preserve their original appearance. During difficult times of wars and conquests, many cities were destroyed and then rebuilt, so only a few buildings managed to “survive” to our times. Still, there are majestic cities that can rightfully bear the proud title of “the most Old city peace."

Jericho (Palestine)

Mention of the first settlements on the site of modern Jericho dates back to 9000 BC. Three millennia later, the city began to actively rebuild and already reached the peak of its development at the turn of the 3rd and 2nd millennia. It was destroyed several times, one of which was mentioned in the Bible.

It was a majestic city, where houses were built of brick and stone. Archaeologists have discovered here the ruins of an ancient synagogue dating back to the 1st century BC, magnificent winter palaces with baths, swimming pools and richly decorated halls. Not far from Jericho rises Mount Carantal, on which, according to legend, Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days. Now in that place there is a majestic Monastery of Temptation carved into the rocks.

Damascus (Syria)

Another very ancient city is Damascus, the first mention of which appeared in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. Due to the fact that in ancient times Damascus was under the rule of the Egyptians, Israelis, Assyrians, Persians and even, this ancient city absorbed the culture of these peoples.

He became famous for his Damascus steel, which was popular in medieval Europe. Today here you can see the ruins of the ancient gates of the fortress, protecting the city from raids, Catholic churches, temples, mosques, old houses, which represent the most important monuments of Damascus culture and history.

Susa (Iran)

The first mention of the ancient city of Susa (modern Shush) dates back to the 7-4 millennium BC. It was the ancient Sumerian capital of the state of Elam. In 668 BC. The Babylonians burned Susa, and after 10 years the state of Elam ceased to exist. The Persians rebuilt the city, restoring and expanding the magnificent palaces and making Susa their capital.

In our era, the city was sacked and destroyed by Muslims and Mongols, so few monuments from that period have reached us. Only the French archaeological expedition, which carried out excavations of the ancient city, left the most significant attraction - the French fortress, built in the 19th century to protect the members of the expedition and guard the finds.

Derbent (Dagestan)

Russia also has the most ancient city, and it was founded in 438 AD, although the first mentions of settlements date back to the end of the 4th millennium BC. WITH different languages its name translates as “closed gate”, “stone”, “wall”. And this is no coincidence - due to frequent raids by nomads, Derbent turned into a reliable fortress. Since the Great Silk Road passed through the city, it was of great commercial importance, and at one time many nations wanted to conquer it. It was under the control of the Persians, Arabs, Iranians, and only in 1813 it began to belong to Russia.

The main attractions of Derbent are its fortress with many gates, the Juma Mosque, the oldest in Russia, the Naryn-Kala fortress and the Derbent tunnel, whose length is 318 m.

Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

The oldest city in Bulgaria was known back in the 6th millennium BC. In 72 BC. came under Roman rule and quickly developed. The influence of Rome has brought to our times the Roman buildings of that time - the amphitheater, baths and hippodrome. In the 6th century they began to belong to the Bulgarians ( Slavic tribe), then Byzantium, and in 1364 was captured Ottoman Empire.

Plovdiv is now the second largest city in Bulgaria. The rich history of the city has left many wonderful sights that characterize a particular culture. Here you can see ancient Roman buildings, mosques, and a Thracian fortress.

Jerusalem (Israel)

This city has rich history associated with conquests and biblical legends. Founded in the 4th millennium BC. Jerusalem has sacred significance for millions of people. Many biblical events are associated with it, including the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its history is truly amazing and extensive. Here are the shrines of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and thousands of pilgrims come to Jerusalem every year to remember their saints and pray.

The most famous sights of Jerusalem are the Western Wall, the mosque on the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Athens, Greece)

The first mention of the ancient capital of Greece dates back to the 15th century BC. It reached its peak in 500-300 BC. and rightfully bears the name of the cradle of Greek culture. It became the birthplace of many famous ancient Greek historians, geographers, poets and philosophers. Monuments are still preserved here ancient history, such as the Acropolis, Athens Agora, Temple of Hephaestus and Temple of Olympian Zeus, etc.

It's just incomplete list most ancient cities. There are still cities in the world that have such old story, that one can only guess about their origin and foundation from the few documents that have come down to us. They are priceless because they have seen the change of eras and civilizations, and even despite the ruins, their greatness will never fade into oblivion.