What is the oldest city on Earth? The most ancient city in the world: what is it like?

Memphis, Babylon, Thebes - all of them were once the largest centers, but only the name remains of them. However, there are cities that have existed throughout human history, from the Stone Age to the present day.

Jericho (West Bank)

At the very foot of the Judean mountains, opposite the confluence of the Jordan into the Dead Sea, the most ancient city on earth - Jericho. Traces of settlements dating back to the 10th-9th millennium BC were found here. e. It was a permanent site of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture, whose representatives built the first Wall of Jericho. The Stone Age defensive structure was four meters high and two meters wide. Inside it was a powerful eight-meter tower, which was obviously used for ritual purposes. Its ruins have survived to this day.

The name Jericho (in Hebrew Yericho), according to one version, comes from the word meaning “smell” and “fragrance” - “reach”. According to another, from the word moon - “yareah”, which could have been revered by the founders of the city. We find the first written mention of it in the book of Joshua, which describes the fall of the walls of Jericho and the capture of the city by the Jews in 1550 BC. e. By that time, the city was already a powerful fortified fortress, whose system of seven walls was a real labyrinth. Not without reason - Jericho had something to protect. It was located at the crossroads of three important trade routes of the Middle East, right in the middle of a flourishing oasis with big amount fresh water and fertile soil. For the inhabitants of the desert, this is a real promised land.

Jericho was the first city to be captured by the Israelites. It was completely destroyed, and all the inhabitants were killed, with the exception of the harlot Rahab, who had previously sheltered the Jewish scouts, for which she was spared.

Today, Jericho, located in the West Bank of Jordan, is a disputed territory between Palestine and Israel that remains in an area of ​​constant military conflict. Therefore, visiting the most ancient and rich in historical sights of the city is not recommended.

Damascus: “Eye of the Desert” (Syria)

Damascus, the current capital of Syria, is fighting for first place with Jericho. The earliest mention of it was found in the list of conquered cities of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who lived in 1479-1425 BC. e. In the first book of the Old Testament, Damascus is mentioned as a large and well-known center of trade.

In the 13th century, the historian Yaqut al-Humawi argued that the city was founded by Adam and Eve themselves, who, after being expelled from Eden, found refuge in the cave of blood (Magarat ad-Damm) on Mount Qasyoun on the outskirts of Damascus. The first murder in history, described in Old Testament– Cain killed his brother. According to legend, the self-name Damascus comes from the ancient Aramaic word “demshak”, which means “brother’s blood”. Another, more plausible version says that the name of the city goes back to the Aramaic word Darmeśeq, translated as “well-watered place.”

It is not known for certain who first founded the settlement near Mount Kasyun. But recent excavations in Tel Ramada, a suburb of Damascus, have shown that people settled the area around 6300 BC. e.

Byblos (Lebanon)

Rounding out the top three ancient cities is Byblos, known today as Jebeil. It is located on the shore Mediterranean Sea 32 km from Beirut, the current capital of Lebanon. It was once a large Phoenician city, founded in the 4th millennium BC, although the first settlements in this area date back to the later stone age– VII millennium.

The ancient name of the city is associated with the legend of a certain Byblis, who was madly in love with her brother, Kavnos. She died of grief when her lover fled to escape sin, and her shed tears formed an inexhaustible source of water that watered the city. According to another version, byblos in Greece was the name for papyrus that was exported from the city.

Byblos was one of the largest ports ancient times. It was also known for the spread of the cult of Baal there, the formidable Sun god, who “demanded” self-torture and bloody sacrifices from his followers. The written language of ancient Byblos still remains one of the main mysteries of the Ancient World. Proto-Byblos writing, widespread in the second millennium BC, is still indecipherable; it is not similar to any of the known writing systems of the Ancient World.

Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

The oldest city in Europe today is considered to be not Rome or even Athens, but the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, located in the southern part of the country between the Rhodope and Balkan mountains (the home of the legendary Orpheus) and the Upper Thracian Lowland. The first settlements on its territory date back to the VI-IV millennia BC. e., although Plovdiv, or rather, then still Eumolpiada, reached its heyday under the peoples of the sea - the Thracians. In 342 BC. it was captured by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the famous Alexander, who named it Philippopolis in his honor. Subsequently, the city managed to be under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, which made it the second cultural center in Bulgaria after Sofia. In world history, Derbent became an unspoken “blockpost” between Europe and Asia. One of the most important sections of the Great Silk Road lay here. It is not surprising that it has always been a favorite object of conquest for its neighbors. The Roman Empire showed great interest in him - main goal campaigns to the Caucasus by Lucullus and Pompey in 66-65 BC. it was Derbent. In the 5th century AD e. When the city belonged to the Sassanids, powerful fortifications were erected here to protect against nomads, including the Naryn-Kala fortress. From it, located at the foot of the mountain range, two walls descended to the sea, designed to protect the city and the trade route. It is from this time that the history of Derbent as a large city dates back.

Population globe began to settle in cities since ancient times. There are still cities on our planet that were founded several thousand years ago. And, what is most surprising, not all of them can be called extinct - life is in full swing in many of them. Of course, in such cities there is something for tourists to see - amazing sights, sacred places and the atmosphere of history make them very attractive.

1. Jericho (Palestine).

Estimated year of foundation: 9000 BC The most ancient of the existing cities. Archaeologists have found the remains of 20 settlements of Jericho, which are more than 11,000 years old. The city is founded on the west bank of the Jordan River. Now about 20,000 people live here.

2. Byblos (Lebanon).

Founded: 5000 BC The city, founded by the Phoenicians under the name "Gebal", received its current name from the Greeks, who imported papyrus here. The word "Bible" has the same root as the toponym "Biblo". The city's main tourist attractions include the Phoenician temples, the Fortress of Byblos and the Church of St. John the Baptist, built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, as well as the old medieval city wall. International festival Bybla attracts many performers here.

3. Aleppo (Syria).

Founded: 4300 BC The most populous city in Syria, home to about 4.4 million people, was founded under the name "Aleppo" around 4300 BC. On the ancient site of the city there are modern residential and administrative buildings, so almost no archaeological excavations have been carried out here. Before 800 BC the city belonged to the Hittites, then to the Assyrians, Greeks and Persians. Later, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs lived here. Aleppo was conquered by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages, then by the Mongols and the Ottoman Empire.

4. Damascus (Syria).

Founded: 4300 BC Damascus, which some sources call the oldest inhabited city on earth, may have been inhabited by people as early as 10,000 BC, although this fact is considered controversial. After the arrival of the Arameans, who laid out the network of canals that still form the basis of modern water supply, the city became an important settlement. Damascus was conquered by the army of Alexander the Great, it was owned by the Romans, Arabs and Turks. Today, the abundance of historical attractions makes the capital of Syria popular among tourists.

5. Susa (Iran).

Founded: 4200 BC Susa was the capital of the Elamite Empire and was later conquered by the Assyrians. Then they came into the possession of the Persian royal dynasty of the Achmenids during the reign of Cyrus the Great. This is where the action of Aeschylus's tragedy "The Persians" takes place. oldest play throughout the history of the theater. IN modern city Shusha has a population of about 65,000 people.

6. Fayoum (Egypt).

Founded: 4000 BC Fayoum, located southwest of Cairo, forms part of Crocodilopolis, an ancient Egyptian city where the god Sebek, depicted with the head of a crocodile, was revered. In modern Fayoum you can find several large bazaars, mosques and baths. Near the city are the pyramids of Lehin and Hawara.

7. Sidon (Lebanon).

Founded: 4000 BC South of Beirut is Sidon, one of the most important and possibly oldest Phoenician cities. From here the great Mediterranean empire of the Phoenicians began to grow. They say that Sidon was visited by Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. Alexander the Great captured the city in 333 BC.

8. Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

Founded: 4000 BC Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, was originally a Thracian settlement and later became an important Roman city. Later it passed into the hands of the Byzantines and Turks, and then became part of Bulgaria. The city is an important cultural center and boasts numerous ancient monuments, including a Roman amphitheater and aqueduct, as well as Turkish baths.

9. Gaziantep (Türkiye).

Founded: 3650 BC Founded in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border, Gaziantep's history dates back to Hittite times. The Ravanda fortress, restored by the Byzantines in the 6th century, is located in the city center. Fragments of Roman mosaics were also found here.

10. Beirut (Lebanon).

Founded: 3000 BC The capital of Lebanon, as well as its cultural, administrative and economic center, boasts rich history, which is about 5000 years old. Excavations on the territory of the city made it possible to find Phoenician, ancient Greek, Roman, Arab and Turkish artifacts. The city was mentioned in messages Egyptian pharaoh back in the 14th century. BC. After graduation civil war in Lebanon Beirut became lively, modern place, ideal for tourists.

11. Jerusalem (Israel).

Founded: 2800 BC The spiritual center of the Jews and the third holy city of the Muslims, it is home to several key landmarks of great significance to believers. Among them are the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. For long history the city was captured 23 times, attacked 52 times, besieged 44 times and destroyed twice.

12. Tire (Lebanon).

Founded: 2750 BC Tire, according to legend, is the birthplace of Europe. It was founded around 2750 BC, according to Herodotus. In 332 BC. The city was conquered by Alexander the Great after a seven-month siege. In 64 BC. Tire became a Roman province. Today, the main industry of the legendary city is tourism: the Roman Hippodrome in Tire is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

13. Erbil (Iraq).

Founded: 2300 BC North of Kirkuk is Erbil, in different eras belonged to the Assyrians, Persians, Sasanians, Arabs and Turks. Erbil was an important settlement on the Silk Road, and its ancient fortress, rising 26 meters above the ground, still dominates the city's landscape.

14. Kirkuk (Iraq).

Founded: 2200 BC Kirkuk, located north of Baghdad, stands on the site of the ancient Assyrian capital of Arrapha. The strategic importance of the settlement was recognized by the inhabitants of Babylon and Media, who controlled the city. The ruins of the 5,000-year-old fortress can still be explored. The city itself is now home to many Iraqi oil companies.

15. Balkh (Afghanistan).

Founded: 1500 BC Balkh, called Bactra by the ancient Greeks, is located in Northern Afghanistan. The Arabs call it "the mother of cities." The city reached its heyday in 2500 - 1900. BC, even before the rise of the Persian and Median empires. Modern Balkh is the capital of the region's textile industry.

16.Athens (Greece).

Founded: 1400 BC Athens, the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, is a popular tourist destination. Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish monuments can be seen here, and the city's heritage is recognized throughout the world as the greatest.

17. Larnaca (Cyprus).

Founded: 1400 BC Larnaca, founded by the Phoenicians under the name "Sitium", is famous for its wonderful palm tree-lined promenade. Archaeological sites and numerous beaches attract many tourists.

18. Thebes (Greece).

Founded: 1400 BC Thebes, the main "rival" of Athens, led the confederation of Boethius and even assisted Xerxes during the Persian invasion (480 BC). Archaeological excavations have shown that before the founding of the city there was a Mycenaean settlement here. Today Thebes is primarily a trading city.

19. Cadiz (Spain).

Year founded: 1100 BC Cadiz, built on a narrow piece of land near Atlantic Ocean, from the 18th century. is the main city of the Spanish fleet. It was founded by the Phoenicians as a small trading post. Around 500 BC the city went to the Carthaginians, from here Hannibal began the conquest of Iberia. Cadiz was then ruled by the Romans and Moors, and during the Great Geographical discoveries he reached his peak.

20. Varanasi (India).

Founded: 1000 BC Varanasi, also known as Benares, is located on the western bank of the Ganges and is a significant sacred city for both Hindus and Buddhists. According to legend, it was founded by the Hindu god Shiva 5,000 years ago, although modern scholars believe that the city is about 3,000 years old.

Among the other most ancient cities in Europe, we also note Lisbon (about 1000 BC), Rome (753 BC), Corfu (about 700 BC) and Mantua (about 500 BC).

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 locality 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. It became a large populated area around the third millennium BC, that is, people have been living in it continuously 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 this does not prevent it from being the cultural capital of the Promised Land. In addition, it is considered one of the objects cultural heritage and is listed by UNESCO as being in danger of destruction.

Bible closes the top three oldest cities in the world. 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 it Greek name, like the word “book” itself came from this locality.

This settlement appeared about four thousand years ago.

Today this Lebanese city belongs to world heritage UNESCO, 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 permanent settlement enough large quantity 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 in 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 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 grew - one of the largest civilizations ancient world.

Faiyum

Egyptian civilization It 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 Fayyum 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.

Memphis, Babylon, Thebes - all of them were once the largest centers, but only the name remains of them. However, there are cities that have existed throughout human history, from the Stone Age to the present day.

Jericho (West Bank)

At the very foot of the Judean Mountains, opposite the confluence of the Jordan into the Dead Sea, is located the most ancient city on earth - Jericho. Traces of settlements dating back to the 10th-9th millennium BC were found here. e. It was a permanent site of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture, whose representatives built the first Wall of Jericho. The Stone Age defensive structure was four meters high and two meters wide. Inside it was a powerful eight-meter tower, which was obviously used for ritual purposes. Its ruins have survived to this day.

The name Jericho (in Hebrew Yericho), according to one version, comes from the word meaning “smell” and “fragrance” - “reach”. According to another, from the word moon - “yareah”, which could have been revered by the founders of the city. We find the first written mention of it in the book of Joshua, which describes the fall of the walls of Jericho and the capture of the city by the Jews in 1550 BC. e. By that time, the city was already a powerful fortified fortress, whose system of seven walls was a real labyrinth. Not without reason - Jericho had something to protect. It was located at the crossroads of three important trade routes in the Middle East, right in the middle of a lush oasis with plenty of fresh water and fertile soil. For the inhabitants of the desert, this is a real promised land.

Jericho was the first city to be captured by the Israelites. It was completely destroyed, and all the inhabitants were killed, with the exception of the harlot Rahab, who had previously sheltered the Jewish scouts, for which she was spared.

Today, Jericho, located in the West Bank of Jordan, is a disputed territory between Palestine and Israel that remains in an area of ​​constant military conflict. Therefore, visiting the most ancient and rich in historical sights of the city is not recommended.

Damascus: “Eye of the Desert” (Syria

Damascus, the current capital of Syria, is fighting for first place with Jericho. The earliest mention of it was found in the list of conquered cities of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who lived in 1479-1425 BC. e. In the first book of the Old Testament, Damascus is mentioned as a large and well-known center of trade.

In the 13th century, the historian Yaqut al-Humawi argued that the city was founded by Adam and Eve themselves, who, after being expelled from Eden, found refuge in the cave of blood (Magarat ad-Damm) on Mount Qasyoun on the outskirts of Damascus. The first murder in history described in the Old Testament also took place there - Cain killed his brother. According to legend, the self-name Damascus comes from the ancient Aramaic word “demshak”, which means “brother’s blood”. Another, more plausible version says that the name of the city goes back to the Aramaic word Darmeśeq, translated as “well-watered place.”

It is not known for certain who first founded the settlement near Mount Kasyun. But recent excavations in Tel Ramada, a suburb of Damascus, have shown that people settled the area around 6300 BC. e.

Byblos (Lebanon)

Rounding out the top three ancient cities is Byblos, known today as Jebeil. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, 32 km from Beirut, the current capital of Lebanon. It was once a large Phoenician city, founded in the 4th millennium BC, although the first settlements in this area date back to the late Stone Age - 7th millennium.

The ancient name of the city is associated with the legend of a certain Byblis, who was madly in love with her brother, Kavnos. She died of grief when her lover fled to escape sin, and her shed tears formed an inexhaustible source of water that watered the city. According to another version, byblos in Greece was the name for papyrus that was exported from the city.

Byblos was one of the largest ports of the ancient era. It was also known for the spread of the cult of Baal there, the formidable Sun god, who “demanded” self-torture and bloody sacrifices from his followers. The written language of ancient Byblos still remains one of the main mysteries of the Ancient World. Proto-Byblos writing, widespread in the second millennium BC, is still indecipherable; it is not similar to any of the known writing systems of the Ancient World.

Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

The oldest city in Europe today is considered to be not Rome or even Athens, but the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, located in the southern part of the country between the Rhodope and Balkan mountains (the home of the legendary Orpheus) and the Upper Thracian Lowland. The first settlements on its territory date back to the VI-IV millennia BC. e., although Plovdiv, or rather, then still Eumolpiada, reached its heyday under the peoples of the sea - the Thracians. In 342 BC. it was captured by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the famous Alexander, who named it Philippopolis in his honor. Subsequently, the city managed to be under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, which made it the second cultural center in Bulgaria after Sofia.

Derbent (Russia)

One of the top five oldest cities in the world is located on the territory of our country. This is Derbent in Dagestan, the southernmost and most ancient city of Russia. The first settlements arose here in the Early Bronze Age (IV millennium BC). It was first mentioned by the famous ancient Greek historian Hecataeus of Miletus in the 6th century BC, who cites the most ancient name city: "Caspian Gate". The city owes such a romantic name to its geographical location- he stretched along coastal strip Caspian Sea - where the Caucasus Mountains come closest to the Caspian Sea, leaving only a three-kilometer strip of plain.

In world history, Derbent has become an unspoken “blockpost” between Europe and Asia. One of the most important sections of the Great Silk Road lay here. It is not surprising that it has always been a favorite object of conquest for its neighbors. The Roman Empire showed great interest in it - the main goal of the campaigns to the Caucasus of Lucullus and Pompey in 66-65 BC. it was Derbent. In the 5th century AD e. When the city belonged to the Sassanids, powerful fortifications were erected here to protect against nomads, including the Naryn-Kala fortress. From it, located at the foot of the mountain range, two walls descended to the sea, designed to protect the city and the trade route. It is from this time that the history of Derbent as a large city dates back.

According to scientists, modern man descended from a small population of homo sapiens that survived a terrible natural disaster that occurred 74,000 years ago and spread across the African continent. After 10-14 thousand years, its members penetrated into Asia, and even later into Europe and America.

With the advent of agriculture, people stopped wandering and began to found villages. Over time, they grew, and around the 7th millennium, the most ancient cities in the world began to emerge.

Some terminology

Before talking about the oldest cities in the world, you should find out what is meant by this definition. In particular, as a result of archaeological excavations on different continents, many large settlements were found. However, today it is customary to call the ancient cities of the world only those that have never been abandoned by their inhabitants since their founding. At the same time, some scientists continue to argue over whether the “age” should not be counted from the moment when a given settlement ceased to be a village, i.e. the number of residents engaged in agriculture became smaller than the number of peasants. Based on these considerations, many ancient cities will become several thousand years younger.

Jericho

Be that as it may, today it is customary to answer the question of what is the most ancient city in the world by calling Jericho. The first traces of humans found on its territory date back to the 10th millennium BC. e., and the oldest buildings excavated by archaeologists - by the year 95,000. The history of Jericho can be traced in some detail in the Old Testament, and later it is repeatedly mentioned in the Roman chronicles. In particular, it is known that it was presented by Mark Antony as a gift to Cleopatra. However, later Emperor Augustus gave it to King Herod, who built many magnificent structures there. In addition, there are records that a Christian church was built in Jericho in the first centuries AD.

Having existed until the 9th century, the city fell into decline due to the wars of Muslims with the Crusaders and Bedouin raids, and from the 13th century it turned into a small Muslim village, destroyed in the 19th century by the Turks. Only at the beginning of the 1920s was the irrigation system restored in the territory of Jericho. After this, these places began to be inhabited by Arabs.

Today Jericho is a small city with a population of just over 20,000 people, located in unrecognized State Palestine. Its main attraction is the Tel es-Sultan hill with a tower believed to be 9 thousand years old.

Damascus

As already mentioned, when the most ancient cities in the world are listed, the list usually begins with Jericho. But the second position in this ranking belongs to Damascus. The city was founded in 2500 BC. e. However, scientists believe that its territory has been continuously inhabited by people since the 10th millennium BC. e. From the 15th century BC. e. V different periods the city was under the rule of the Egyptian pharaohs, Assyria, Israel, Persia and other powerful states of that time. The history of Damascus in later times is no less interesting. In particular, it is known that after the visit of St. Apostle Paul, just a few years after the crucifixion of the Savior, there was already a Christian community in the city, and in the Middle Ages it was stormed three times, but the crusading knights were never able to capture it. Like the most ancient city in the world, Jericho, Damascus lay in ruins for some time. The fault was the troops of Tamerlane, who invaded Syria in 1400 and carried out a terrible massacre, the consequences of which are still long years did not allow Damascus to regain its former power.

The most ancient city in the world according to ancient historians

Scientists learned about the true age of Jericho only in the second half of the last century, and before that, in different eras, completely different cities laid claim to this title. For example, in the ancient world it was believed that Byblos, which appears in the Old Testament under the name Gebal, was founded earlier than others. It has been mentioned as a city since the 4th millennium BC. e. Many legends are associated with it. For example, the ancient Egyptians believed that it was there that Isis found the body of the god Osiris. In addition, Jebel (the Arabic name for Byblos) is known as the site of various ancient cults, such as those worshiping Baal and Adonis. Since it was in it that it was produced most of papyrus produced in the ancient world, the first books made from such “paper” began to be called byblos.

Athens

Interestingly, the capital of Greece does not claim to be the most ancient city in the world, since it was founded only around 1400 BC. e. It is known that even in the Mycenaean era there was a palace and a fortified settlement there. For thousands of years, Athens was the main educational and cultural center of the ancient world and did not lose this role even in Roman times. Today you can see many architectural monuments there, which are several thousand years old. Moreover, in terms of their number, Athens is far superior to other ancient cities on the planet.

Rome

Oddly enough, Rome, which has been called eternal for thousands of years, is not included in the list of the 10 most ancient cities in the world, since it was founded in 753 BC. e. However, it is obvious that settlements existed in its place many millennia before. It’s just that historians get information about the origins of other cities from archaeological excavations, the “birthday” of Rome was “calculated” in the first century on the basis of the legend about the sons of Mars and Princess Rhea Silvia - Remus and Romulus.

The most ancient cities in the world: Yerevan

Few people know that the capital of Armenia, or more precisely, the city of Erebuni that existed in its place, older than Rome for 29 years. Moreover, this fortress has a quite significant, both literally and figuratively, “birth certificate” signed by its founder, Argishty, the son of Menua. It's about about a stone with cuneiform writing, which in 1894 the famous Russian anthropologist A. Ivanovsky acquired from one of the Armenian peasants. The inscription on the boulder was deciphered, and it turned out that it reports the construction of a large granary by King Argishta the First. More than half a century later, on the outskirts of Yerevan, on the Arin-berd hill, excavations were carried out and two more slabs were found, one of which already touched the base of the fortress. In addition, another “Erebuni metric” was found, already embedded in the wall of the fortress, some of the buildings of which have been perfectly preserved to this day. In particular, today in the Erebuni fortress, recognized by Forbes as the 9th oldest in the world, you can see the ruins of the Susi temple, with cuneiform tablets of King Argishti, the wall of the sanctuary of the god Khaldi with beautiful wall paintings, an ancient stone water supply system and much more.

Derbent

When talking about the most ancient cities in the world, one cannot fail to mention the Russian Derbent. Judging by archaeological finds, a settlement in its place existed as early as the 4th millennium BC. e. and was repeatedly raided. As for the name Derbent, it was first found by Herodotus in a document of the 5th century. It is also known that in the first century AD, in order to capture this city, which was considered the gateway to the Caspian Sea, the Romans and Persians, who fought for dominance in the Caucasus and adjacent regions, organized campaigns.

Now you know which is the most ancient city in the world, some interesting information about Damascus, Derbent, Yerevan, Byblos and other cities.