But today, the historical monuments that survive include the 12th-century Tughrul Tower and the 5,000-year-old Cheshmeh Ali Hill, a hill with a spring and an excavation site where 7,000-year-old artefacts were discovered. One of the oldest cities in the Middle East, Damascus was founded in the 3rd millennium B.C., and Athens, Greece. T o figure out where you should travel to next, there are plenty of lists out there ranking the worlds best cities. that makes it one of the oldest cities in Africa. Byblos, Lebanon has existed since 5000 BC, which puts it among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. The present architecture is a result of several invasions. All were founded by European explorersSpanish, French, and Englishalthough most occupied lands had been settled long before by Indigenous peoples. These cities are wonderful pieces of the past. The city of Faiyum is located in an area that was once the ancient city of Crocodilopolis, whose inhabitants used to worship a sacred crocodile named Petsuchos. In ancient history, the Faiyum city was also known as Crocodile city, since the city worshiped a tamed sacred crocodile named Petsuchos. Despite the passing The most beautiful is the 8th-century Great Mosque of the Umayyads built on the site of an Assyrian sanctuary. Also Read: Top 10 Most Beautiful Roman Aqueducts In The World. During the middle ages, the city was the center point of the flourishing craft industry, specializing in swords and lace. So, here is the list of top ten oldest cities in the world. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is also a major cultural center of the Arab world. Varanasi. Damascus. From Singapore To New York City, more than 26% of the worlds 2,095 billionaires live in just 10 cities on three continents. The Worlds Oldest Cities Beijing cracked the top five this year in a ranking of global integration. Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and a major Roman city. Canadas top three are Toronto (5.4 million), Montreal (3.5 million) and Vancouver (2.27 million) The Largest Cities In The World By Population We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Horus Alas Nov. 24, 2020. Today its metropolitan area is home to about 2.5 million people, and in 2008 it was named theArab Capital of Culture. Do post your comments. It rose to become a major industrial economy and became extremely populous in the 20th Century. The city started out as a fishing village named Gubal. Every city around the world holds some form of mystery. Walkerssk / Pixabay. Jericho is the city is located near the Jordan River, Palestine. The answer is confusing when thinking about the oldest of them all. Some of the oldest cities, which have been consistently inhabited perpetually for three millennia or longer each, are looked at below. Top 10 Oldest Cities in the World . Byblos became a colony of Egypt, adopting elements of region and culture from Egyptians. The city still features 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings, the Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewellery and much more from Ancient Greece. Damascus is credited with being the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world. Faiyum was founded around 4,000 B.C. But, Islam has a great influence, which is evident in the Umayyad Mosque, one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world, built between A.D. 705 and 715. It was one of the most important towns of the ancient world, and its location is in the lower Zagros Mountains at a distance of approximately 160 miles (250 kilometers) to the east of the famous Tigris River. While the rest of the world looks to the top destinations for their next vacation, history lovers should look to the cities with the most to offer cities that are older than any other on the planet and home to some of the world's greatest heritage sites. Also, the city was captured by Arabs in A.D. 641 and was almost destroyed by the Mongols in 1220. Today, Aleppo is probably the second-largest city in Syria after the capital city of Damascus. The Palermo Stone was purchased in 1859 by Ferdinand Guidano and was given to the Palermo Archaeological Museum in 1877by th This city is also an archaeological wonder because of the successive layers of debris resulting from centuries of human habitation. The Great Mosque and the Church of St. Simeon tell of the religious significance of ancient Aleppo. Your email address will not be published. Byblos, Lebanon has existed since 5000 BC, which puts it among the world's oldest continuously Argos, Greece. Excavations on the ruins have led to the discovery of temple remains, sculptures, theaters, and pottery remains. Athens established itself as a hub for trade, arts, architecture, and education. Today, Faiyum is a great city that hosts many bazaars, markets, mosques, and other interesting places. and hosts the busiest seaport on the European Atlantic coast. The Site is dedicated to providing facts and information for the knowledge and entertainment purpose. Sidon changed numerous times over time and was destroyed during the period of crusaders and was later rebuilt. 2.2 South Your email address will not be published. Sidon. The city of Faiyum is located in an area that was once the ancient city of Crocodilopolis, whose inhabitants used to worship a sacred crocodile named Petsuchos. Jerusalem: Period- 2800 BC. Though Lisbon has so much history with inhabitancy dated back to before 1st Millennium BC, today it is deemed a global city. The city also features many historical buildings and archaeological sites to make it a great destination for visitors. It began as a small village called Halab and eventually grew to become a hub of garments and cloth manufacture. It was the capital and commercial city during the reigns of Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great, both of the Persian Empire. 2 Americas. It is also believed to have the oldest stone tower in the world, however, excavations at Tell Qaramel in Syria have discovered stone towers that are even older. There are cities around the world that go back thousands of years, many of which, still pulsate with life that's palpable and magnetic. Also Read: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities In The World. Aleppo is a city in Syria and the most-populous Syrian governorate. Damascus, the capital city of the Syrian Arab Republic is the largest city in the country, known in Syria as ash-Sham and titled as the City of Jasmine. It is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on the River Ganges, and many come to its banks to perform funeral rites, as it is believed those who die here will be granted eternal life. Athens had a marketplace called Agora which attracted great thinkers and philosophers such as Socrates and Hippocrates. One of the oldest cities is also known as City of the Seven Hills because it was built on 7 hills around the Maritsa River, however, one of the hills was demolished over a hundred years ago and now we have only 6 hills but the name is still same. By Benjamin Elisha Sawe on August 15 2018 in World Facts. Extreme lows of -61 F/ -51.5 C have been recorded, although the monthly average for January is 6.4 F/ -14.2 C. Most years, the citys river remains frozen over from mid-November to early April, makes this one of the coldest cities in the world. It was built around 2000 B.C. It was a Phoenician city that grew and flourished in the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC and has been mentioned severally in the Old Testament of the Bible and the writings of Homer, the great Greek poet. Dating all the way back to 11th century BC, Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world. This is the largest city not only in Nigeria but also in the whole of the African continent. That has a brimming history with historical gems, representing various empires such as the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Related: 10 Mysterious Underwater Cities of the Ancient World. If you are interested in the antiquity of the history and the passionate oldness of cities, follow up this article, including the top 10 oldest cities in the world. It grew in strides to become a major commercial establishment especially because of its busy port. 5. 3,000 BC Beirut, oftenlikened to a Phoenix, has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times. The city also features the oldest stone tower in the world but recently, excavations at Tell Qaramelin Syria have discovered stone towers that are even older. Argos in Greece is estimated to have been continuously inhabited since 5000 BC. But, the ancient city of Sidon even today has many cultural influences including, ruins of fortresses, the temple of Eshmoun and the Castle of the Sea and much more. Parthenon, an ancient temple is the most notable monument from ancient Athens. in Olympia, in Peloponnese, however, the city of Athens has its own games called the Panathenaic Games, since 566 B.C. In 1837 the city was hit by a major earthquake but was later rebuilt.Presently the city of Sidon is under the municipality of Sidon that has 21 members of the council including the mayor of the city and the deputy. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, Beirut. Lagos had initiall Between 645 BCE and 640 BCE, the city was invaded by Assyrians and destroyed, but later rebuilt by Cyrus, the Persian king when he attacked and conquered the Assyrians in 538 BCE. Also Read: 10 Most Awesome Obelisks Around The World. Plovdiv in southern Bulgaria is an ancient city built around the 7 hills. The Oldest Cities in the World Byblos, Lebanon. 5. In the years before Christianity, Sidon had many conquerors such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and finally Romans. The city was known to be the first known democracy. Top sight: National Museum of Beirut the citys foremost cultural institution charts Lebanons history and features piec Required fields are marked *. The world is a changed place from when these cities were first inhabited. 1.2 Sub-Saharan. It has been first occupied between 8800 and 7000 BC and continuously inhabited since 5000 BC. The area of Sidon was inhabited dating back to 4,000 BCE. viagetintravel.com Excavations at Tell Ramad on the outskirts of the city have revealed that the general area was inhabited as early as 9000 Its location and persistence have made the city a nexus for civilizations come and gone. Damascus is widely believed to be theoldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with evidence of habitation dating back at least 11,000 years. Byblos is among the oldest cities in the world that have been continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years. It is the oldest city of Western Europe and considered one of the oldest cities of the world. For some cities around the world, the winter season isnt just cold, its ruthless. It is a huge financial centre in Africa with the highest GDP and has one of its largest and busiest ports. The city is considered to be oldest in Egypt, which was founded in 4000 B.C. Argos was the most prominent city in the Peloponnese until its defeat by the Spartans. Gaziantep, a city in the western part of Turkey, Southeastern Anatolia, is the sixth-most populous city in Turkey and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. These measures are called the Pheidonian measures after King Pheidon, under whose leadership the use of silver coins was also introduced. There is enough evidence of human settlement as far back as 7,000 years ago. Related: Top 10 Largest Cities in the World By Population. Most of these cities are major tourist attractions in contemporary age and boast monuments that attest to ancient civilization. Argos in Greece is estimated to have been continuously inhabited since 5000 BC. The Faiyum is a city in Middle Egypt, which is believed to be oldest city in Egypt due to its strategic location. The city is a major cultural centre and boasts many ancient remains, including a Roman amphitheatre and aqueduct, and Ottoman baths. The city rose to prominence again during the Byzantine period but was finally destroyed by the Turks. Mentions of the city have been made in the history of the Greco- Romans, and even though the Greek texts have yet to be proven, science and carbon dating have shown that the city is older than all of the oldest cities of Egypt. Although debatable, the age of some of the oldest cities in the world predates even the Roman Empire or the Greeks before them. 10 Mysterious Underwater Cities of the Ancient World, Top 10 Largest Cities in the World By Population, Top 10 Most Visited Cities In The World You Should Visit, 10 Most Awesome Obelisks Around The World, Top 10 Most Beautiful Roman Aqueducts In The World, Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities In The World, 6 Reasons why New Orleans is a Great Place to Tie the Knot in. Byblos. The population of Lagos has been a matter of dispute, with the federal census data and the State Government data clashing with each other, though the current population of the city proper is estimated at approximately 17 million. It is one of the biggest cultural European centers and ends our Top 10 Oldest Cities in the World. Between 309 and 246 BC, Ptolemy II Phuladelph Top 10 Oldest Cities in the World. Turkey is by far one of the most historic locations in the world, and Konya comes fifth on our list. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of more than 20 successive settlements in Jericho which dates back 9000 BC. 1.1 Northern and the Horn. Argos was believed to be the son of Zeus, a god in Greek mythology. Aleppo is one of the oldest cities in Syria as well as one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to 4300 BC. Today Byblos is a cultural city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is situated around 26 miles (42 kilometers) to the north of Beirut. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. During the period of the Ottoman Empire rule, the city flourished again continuously starting in 1517, and lasting for around 400 years thereafter. The 10 Oldest Cities In The World. The first ever Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. These remains attest to the religious and cultural significance of Argos in ancient Greece.