The 10 oldest cities in the world
When you walk through the streets of an old city, I always find it so special to remember that many centuries ago people already lived and lived in the same place. The following ten cities are the oldest oldest inhabited cities in the world. Incidentally, it is not exact science, both Byblos, Damascus, and Jericho claim that they are the oldest city. In this list of the 10 oldest cities in the world we assume the data as used by the English newspaper the telegraph.co.uk.
10. Beirut, Lebanon
The first inhabitants were 3,000 BC.
Beirut is now the capital and therefore the largest city in Lebanon. The city has a rich history of cultures, including Arabic and Roman influences. After the Lebanese Civil War (1975 - 1990) a lot of hard work was done on rebuilding the city and now Beirut is a modern tourist attraction.
8. Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The first residents were 4,000 BC.
The second largest city in Bulgaria is the oldest city in Europe. Plovdiv has a Tracic history and then the city transformed into a large Roman city. The city has many ancient remains, such as an amphitheater and Ottoman baths, and there have even been archaeological finds that say 6,000 BC. people already lived.
7. Sidon, Lebanon
The first residents were 4,000 BC.
Slightly further south than Beirut is the city of Sidon, one of the most important and oldest Phoenician cities. Sidon was the basis from which the Phoenician Mediterranean empire grew. Sidon, which means fishing port, owes its name to the favorable lying on the Mediterranean coast.
6. El-Faiyum, Egypt
The first residents were 4,000 BC.
Southwest of Cairo is the city of El-Faiyum. It was part of the old Crocodilopolis. The city is located in the Faiyu oasis, although it is not really an oasis since it draws its water from Lake Birket Karoen. The current El-Faiyum consists of large bazaars, mosques and bath houses and the Lehin and Hawara Pyramides are close to the city.
5. Susa, Iran
The first residents were 4,200 BC.
Susa used to be the capital of the Elamite empire and the city got the name of the Elamites, they pronounced it as Susan. Later the city was part of the Babylonian empire, here the link was made with the Semitic word "susan" which means lily. Nowadays the city is part of Irun.
4. Damascus, Syria
The first inhabitants were 4,300 BC.
Some say that Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the oldest city in the world because finds have been made from 10,000 BC, but this is disputable. The city was part of the Aramean empire, which the canals in the city have developed. Nowadays these are still used in the city of 1.8 million inhabitants. The city was also owned by the Romans, Arabs and Ottomans. The city is in the vicinity of various famous Bible stories.
3. Aleppo, Syria
The first inhabitants were 4,300 BC.
Aleppo has 4.4 million and is therefore the most populated city in Syria. Archaeologists were unable to explore the city because of the modern city it is today. The city has been part of the Greek and Persian empires, among others, and later also by the Romans, Byzantines and Arabs. Due to the current conflicts that rage through the city, many architectural highlights have been destroyed.
2. Byblos, Lebanon
The first residents were 5,000 BC.
Byblos was given the name by the Greeks, who at the time imported papyrus from the city. That is why the sacred writings of Christianity were later copied in Byblos. The English word for Bible, Bible is derived from this. The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. And now tourists visit the city because of the ancient temples, the Byblos castle and the Saint John the Baptist church.
1. Jericho, Palestine
The first inhabitants were 9,000 BC.
The oldest city in the world has been destroyed and rebuilt 20 (!) Times in its long history. Because of its fertile soil, the city used to be a greenery in the arid desert, Jericho was also called the palm city in the past. Jericho probably comes from jareach, which means moon. The city is close to the Jordaan and currently has 20,000 inhabitants.
