There are many cities in the world which claim to be the oldest city. There are many secrets buried in these cities which have been revealed to us over time. There is much evidence we found of ancient human civilization in these cities. There are many old cities which are continuously inhabited around the world and to visit such great cities is an incredible experience. It is a curious event to know ancient history through the oldest cities which retain many hidden mysteries.
Determining the “oldest” cities can be a bit challenging, as it depends on how you define a city and the criteria you use to measure age. However, I can provide a list of some of the ancient cities that are often considered among the oldest based on historical and archaeological evidence:
Old cities around the world
Here is a list of old cities around the world:
1. Faiyum, Egypt
The Faiyum is a famous city which is considered as the oldest city in Egypt because of its strategic location. The city is located in the middle of Egypt. The Faiyum was an arid desert until the water of the Nile River diverted towards it. Once it was filled with water, it started attracting wildlife and with a short time span, it became a lush green bowl. The Faiyum was founded around 4,000 B.C. which makes it one of the oldest cities in Africa. The city is located 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Memphis (modern Cairo). Today, Faiyum is a modern city with many markets, mosques, and other tourist attractions.
2. Aleppo, Syria
There is much evidence available that Aleppo existed even 8,000 years ago, but 15 miles from the city there is a place where excavation revealed that the city was settled about 13,000 years ago. It shows that the area around Aleppo and its surroundings is the oldest place on earth where humans lived in a systematic way. About 5,000 years ago the city was mentioned in cuneiform tablets, which describes its commercial and military efficiency. The city is located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, Aleppo was the center of the ancient world. This beautiful city is facing the ongoing Syrian Civil War. Today it is the most populous city in Syria.
3. Damascus, Syria
It is believed that Damascus is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. There is evidence available for at least 11,000 years ago. Today around 2.5 million people live in this city. In 2008, it was named the Arab Capital of Culture. Damascus includes several historic churches and mosques. Many cultures have left their traces, especially Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic. the city was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1979.
4. Argos, Greece
Argos is a city in Greece that is counted among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. It is considered the largest city and major center of the Argolis region. Argos is considered Europe’s oldest city. This city is about 7,000 years old. Argos is located at the foot of a nearly 300-meter-high mountain. In the region of Argos, there are remains of a temple, a market, a city wall, and a theater are available.
5. Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon which is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. The city has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. The earliest historical mention of Beirut is found in the letters of Amarana from the New Kingdom of Egypt, which dates from around the 15th century BC. Beirut is the country’s largest and main seaport which is situated at the midpoint of Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast.
6. Jericho, Palestine
A fort was found in Jericho City, which is approximately 6800 BC, confirming that the city is one of the oldest known walled cities, as well as the evidence of other habitats in this area, is almost 11,000 years old, Which is why this city has been considered a serious contender for the world’s oldest city. Today nearly 20,000 people live happily in Jericho. It is difficult to believe that the city is located below sea level, but still, it has remained inhabited and dry. This fact makes the Jericho the lowest permanently inhabited location on Earth.
7. Luoyang, China
Nearly 4,000 years ago, many ancient cities were built in the Middle East and Europe, since then Luoyang has stood as the oldest settled city in Asia. Located in the heart of China, Luoyang City is considered to be the oldest city in the country and is one of the seven great ancient capitals of China. Located on the confluence of Luo and Yi rivers, this city is also considered to be the geographical center of ancient China.
8. Athens, Greece
From ancient times, Athens is a home to philosophy and Western civilization. Athens is the city that boasts the history of great philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates. Athens has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years. Dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age, Athens is the historical capital of Europe. Evidence of human presence in Athens between the 11th and 7th millennium BC are available, that’s why Athens is considered as one of the oldest city in the world.
9. Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
Human settlement in Erbil is probably considered in the 5th millennium BC, and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Erbil is the capital of Kurdistan and is the most populous city in the Kurdish area. It is located in the middle of Iraq’s Kurdistan region in the north of Iraq. Erbil Citadel is also known as Hawler Castle. This citadel was made slowly by human civilization almost 6,000 years ago. It has now been displaced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by a city of more than 850,000 people.
10. Gaziantep, Turkey
Gaziantep is the sixth most populous city in Turkey and is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. There are traces of human settlement going back to the 4th millennium BC. Situated in the center of the city the Gaziantep Fortress and the Ravanda Citadel show the Byzantine history of the 6th century. The city is located in the western part of Turkey and it is an important economic center for Southeastern and Eastern Turkey. Today, In terms of exports and imports the Gaziantep holds rank one in the whole of Turkey. The city is one of the leading machined carpet producers in the world.
11. Rayy, Iran
With evidence supporting the fact of inhabitants dating back to 6,000 B.C., the Rayy is one of the oldest cities in the world. The Rayy is located in the Greater Tehran metropolitan area of Iran and has proper evidence of habitation over the past 8,000 years. This sacred city of Zoroastrians retained history in terms of monuments like the 5,000-year-old Cheshmeh Ali Hill and the 3,000-year-old Gebri castle. The city was captured by Arabs in A.D. 641 and was brutally destroyed by the Mongols in 1220.
12. Byblos, Lebanon
Byblos locally called as Jbeil, is the most popular and largest city in Lebanon. The city is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It has been first occupied between 8800 and 7000 BC and continuously inhabited since 5000 BC. There is enough evidence of human settlement as far back as 7,000 years ago. Now the Byblos is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The term “Bible” is derived from Byblos because it was Byblos through which papyrus was imported to Greece.
13. Varanasi, India
Varanasi is an old town on the Ganges coast. Varanasi is also known as ‘Banaras’ and ‘Kashi’. It is one of the oldest settled cities in the world and the oldest city in India. According to mythology, Kashi was founded by Hindu Lord Shiva almost 5000 years ago. Generally, the city of Varanasi is considered at least 3000 years old. It is considered one of the holiest cities in Hinduism and it is called an uncharted area. Apart from this, it is also considered sacred in Buddhism and Jainism.
14. Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and an important economic, cultural and educational center. There is much evidence available of habitation in Plovdiv dating back to the 6th millennium BCE when the first Neolithic settlements were established. Based on the evidence the city has been considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world.
15. Jerusalem
Located in the Middle East, Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is believed that this city arose between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago in the thriving Levant region. It is situated on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. Major religions established in Jerusalem are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jerusalem’s Old City is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Israel and the Palestinian Both National Authority claim that Jerusalem is their capital and this is the biggest conflict between Israel and Palestine.
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The antiquity of these cities showcases the remarkable resilience of human civilization over millennia. Each of these ancient urban centers holds a unique tale of human progress, adaptation, and endurance through changing times. From the ancient landscapes of the Middle East to the cradles of European and Asian civilization, these cities stand as living testimonies to the ingenuity, culture, and legacy of our ancestors. Exploring their history not only reveals the depth of our shared heritage but also emphasizes the significance of preserving and appreciating the rich tapestry of our collective human past.
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