What is the most old city in the world? Determining the age of a city, especially if the first settlements on its site date back to the Paleolithic era, is a subject of eternal debate among historians, archaeologists, and paleontologists. However, scholars agree on one thing—the majority of the world's oldest cities today are located near the Mediterranean Sea, including in Egypt and Syria. All of them have witnessed the rise and fall of several great civilizations. Some remember Egyptian pharaohs, others Roman emperors, Ottoman conquerors, and crusaders. Thus, visiting such places can be a bright and memorable adventure for both adults and children.
Jericho, Palestine (10th century BC)
Jericho tops the list of the world's oldest cities. Archaeological findings indicate that its lands were inhabited 11.6 thousand years ago. Jericho is repeatedly mentioned in biblical texts. In the times of the Roman Empire, the city was a gift from Mark Antony to Cleopatra. Here, on the west bank of the Jordan River, Jewish exiles found refuge, crusaders fought, and history was made. During fierce battles, Jericho was destroyed to the ground, and its ruins were only excavated in the 19th century.
Later, a modern city grew around the historical center of Jericho. Now its population is 20.5 thousand people, predominantly Arabs of Palestinian descent. Jericho's uniqueness is also in its location—258 meters below sea level. The city retains several attractions: the Orthodox Greek monastery on Mount Quarantania, accessible by cable car, the ruins of the Tell es-Sultan palace, a site of archeological excavations, and the architectural wonder—the Hisham's Palace, adorned with unique mosaic patterns. The city center itself is not very presentable.
Damascus, Syria (8th century BC)
Damascus is the cultural, historical, and religious center of the Middle East. Damascus is, if not the oldest city on earth, then certainly the oldest place with a continuous tradition of habitation. Its history is so deep that even ancient historians cannot precisely pinpoint when the city was founded. Archeological excavations have been repeatedly conducted in Damascus. The oldest cultural layer discovered to date dates back to the Neolithic era, meaning it is over 7 thousand years old.
The most notable monuments of ancient history in Damascus are its fortifications, the Citadel, the Umayyad Mosque, and the old city. It had ten gates built during the Roman dominion, once named after celestial bodies. The gates shared the fate of the old city's fortifications: some were destroyed, others bricked up and ceased to be used for their intended purpose. To this day, eight of these gates have been preserved fully or partially. Damascus is a beautiful city where historical monuments and modern buildings are harmoniously intertwined.
Byblos, Lebanon (5th century BC)
The exact age of this city is truly unknown. Online sources claim that people have lived here for as long as 9,000 years! Local guides and wall advertisements provide various figures: some say 6,000 years ago, others report about 7 or even 8,000 years. English sources even lower the threshold to more than 9,000 years back in history, and boldly state that it is the most ancient human city on the planet.
An amazing place! Whether it's a thousand years more or less, it hardly matters here. Mammoths once roamed the Arctic tundras, the Mediterranean Sea was a freshwater lake, yet there was already a settlement here where people lived. And they still live here. Local guides say that the Greeks named the city because they imported Egyptian papyrus from here. In ancient times, the city itself was called Gubla, then Gebal, and now as a derivative of the ancient names, Jbeil. Over all these thousands of years, so many different peoples have trodden here that it's hard to determine which epoch a particular stone belongs to. Moreover, the same stones were used repeatedly in the construction of various structures. Romans built something on the site of ancient Phoenician ruins, Crusaders built something during the times of the Ottoman Empire's rule. The modern population of Byblos (Jbeil) is 3,000 people.
Now oldest cities in Europe!
Argos, Greece (5th century BC)
Let's go to see the very old European city. The Greek city of Argos dates back to the Mycenaean civilization and is recognized as the oldest city in Greece and Europe. Its main cultural value is the Argos Fortress, still standing today, located on Larissa Hill near the city center. Over the centuries, Argos has been inhabited by Greeks, Byzantines, Venetians, Turks, and even Crusaders, each of whom contributed elements of their culture to its architecture.
Despite its rich history, Argos is very modern and active. There are buildings in the neoclassical style. For example, the Konstantinoupoleio Palace, the mansion of the Greek diplomat, politician, and Prime Minister of Greece Harilaos Trikoupis, the luxurious Municipal Palace, and the Church of Saint Peter, built in the mid-19th century in the style of a domed basilica.
Athens, Greece (circa 5th century BC)
Another oldest European city. Ariadne's thread, the Minotaur, Theseus, Gorgon, the labors of Hercules, the courage of Prometheus, Perseus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena... Oh city, sung in myths and legends, the second oldest European capital, the center of the Mycenaean civilization, with the first written references dating back to 1600 BC. Athens has been continuously inhabited since the Neolithic times. According to tradition, the city of glory and power of antiquity existed long before the Mycenaean era, although no reliable evidence has yet been found to confirm this. Athens became the capital of Greece in the early 19th century.
If you want to see its great past for yourself, you must visit Athens. One of the most significant attractions in Athens is the famous Athenian Acropolis or Cecropia, which is a complete architectural ensemble of ancient buildings. However, the city of Athens itself is a real open-air museum. There is definitely plenty to see in Athens. Here alone, one can see with their own eyes the history of the great past of the extraordinary culture of Ancient Greece. Athens breathes history, the history of an ancient and truly great state.
One more oldest place on Earth.
Susa, Iran (4th century BC)
The ancient Iranian city of Susa was a major political and trade center of ancient Elam and later the Persian Empire and the entire Ancient East. Archaeological excavations have helped lift the veil of mystery over several vanished civilizations. It was here that the mass weddings of Alexander the Great's conquering warriors to Persian women took place, and Susa became the capital of the largest tribal union in the 3rd century BC, which laid the foundation for the creation of the Elamite kingdom. Over 3 millennia, it was home to the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, followed by the Achaemenids (Persians), Macedonians, Parthians, Romans, and then the Sassanids. In 638 AD, the territory was taken over by the Arabs, who destroyed the city. In 1218, Susa was again destroyed by the Mongols, after which people left the old part of the city, forming the modern city of Shush. Since 2015, Susa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All that remains of ancient Susa today is the Acropolis platform, outside of which are the pitiful remnants of structures from the Persian era, including part of a wall. The imagination paints far more antiquities on these hills.
Sidon, Lebanon (4th century BC)
Sidon is an ancient Phoenician city located on the Mediterranean coast in Lebanon, now known as Saida. Nothing from ancient times has survived in the city, but there are two Crusader castles and the Old City from the Arab period. However, if you think about it, I'm not quite right: one ancient legend has survived from the city, which you have all heard of. Remember the abduction of Europa? Well, Europa was the daughter of Agenor—the king of the wealthy Phoenician city of Sidon.
As I mentioned earlier, no ancient ruins can be found in the city. Sidon is little different from the rest, even the local promenade, although it has every chance to become a resort promenade, has nothing more than fishing shops. The center is a labyrinth of small streets, which are not even well marked on maps, so sometimes you need to navigate by guessing. You often end up in a dead-end in someone's yard. There are many arches. Sometimes low and whimsical.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria (4th century BC)
One more most ancient city in the world. Plovdiv is the oldest city in Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in the world, continuously attracting travelers with its cultural and historical charm. According to scientists, the city's age is more than 6,000 years. Currently, about 400,000 people live in the city, making it the second largest settlement in the country, second only to the capital in population size. The cultural and historical sites in Plovdiv are of global significance, with more than 200 world cultural heritage sites in the city.
The main historical symbol of Plovdiv for many thousands of years remains the ancient theater, which has been fully restored and is now used for the most significant cultural events. Magnificent ancient streets adorned with skillfully carved wooden houses, amazing ancient structures, and a huge number of art galleries—that is how Plovdiv appears to modern tourists. Another important feature of Plovdiv is that almost the entire central district is closed to vehicular traffic, allowing one to leisurely stroll and enjoy the beauties of the ancient city.
Gaziantep, Turkey (around 3650 BC)
Gaziantep is rightly called a city where antiquity and modernity harmoniously coexist. Authentic streets, ancient monuments, and modern buildings create a unique character. Excavations here have uncovered historical artifacts from the times of the Persians under Alexander the Great, the Hittites, the Seleucids, as well as from the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Many items found by archaeologists date back to the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age. Gaziantep is not just a historical center but also a region rich in natural resources, boasting an ancient culture and traditions.
Additionally, Gaziantep is the culinary capital of Turkey, known for its sweet dishes made from Antep pistachios. Here, they produce carpets, fabrics, items made of copper, mother-of-pearl, leather, as well as traditional musical instruments. The city is advantageously located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, considered a cradle of the first civilizations. It is situated at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road stretching south to the Mediterranean Sea.
Beirut, Lebanon (4th century BC)
Beirut is one of the world's ancient polis, founded by the Phoenicians about 5,000 years ago, and has been continuously inhabited since then. After the Phoenicians, it saw Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, French and much more. During this time, invaders destroyed Beirut to its foundations seven times, but each time it rose from the ashes, earning it the nickname "Phoenix City." The turbulent history at the crossroads of cultures has left its mark on the city's appearance and its people.
The symbol of Beirut is the Pigeon Rocks, rising from the sea depths near De Gaulle Promenade, where both tourists and locals gather in the evening to spend time among the beautiful landscapes in one of the numerous cafes and restaurants. Beirut truly embodies an Eastern fairytale, enticing with golden sandy beaches, stunning sunsets, coastal breezes, lush greenery, vibrant colors, and the intoxicating aromas of spices and coffee. Beirut's architectural landscape is unusual and fascinating, combining elements from different epochs and civilizations: antique style, Eastern, Italian, Gothic, Baroque.
Bonus! Larnaca, Cyprus (13th century BC)
While modern cities like Limassol and Paphos are built away from their ancient predecessors, Larnaca is located right where Kition once stood. Kition was the name of an ancient city-state on the southern coast of Cyprus, on the territory of modern Larnaca. Excavating the entire area of ancient Kition would require virtually digging up all of Larnaca.
Research indicates that the first settlement on the territory of modern Larnaca appeared in the 13th century BC and was founded by Mycenaean Greeks. The city later experienced several invasions and fell under the control of the Phoenicians, who were successful traders throughout the Mediterranean. This was a period of Kition's greatest prosperity: its city port turned into a major trading hub.
The ruins of ancient Kition were discovered during the drainage of swamps in 1879. They are located in the northern part of Larnaca, near the city's Archaeological Museum. Unfortunately, time has not spared the ancient city. From the grandiose Kition, only a football field-sized area with meager remnants of ancient structures remains, around which rare tourists wander along dusty paths, straining their imaginations to conjure the grandeur of a bygone era.
Historically, ancient Kition gained fame in connection with the campaign of Cimon the Athenian—politician and strategist of ancient Athens, who died during the siege of the city in an attempt to conquer it (450 BC). In the 1st century AD, the Christianization of Kition began, with Saint Lazarus, who came to Cyprus after being resurrected by Christ and lived here until his second death, becoming its first bishop. Larnaca residents are also very proud of their fellow citizen, Zeno of Citium, a philosopher who was at the forefront of ancient philosophy. His profile adorns the city's coat of arms and the loungers on the local beaches.
Now you know what is the oldest city in the world.
Read also:
