In the top ten most ancient cities on the planet – 2 Greek (video)

Most of the world's oldest cities are located near the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece and Cyprus.

They have lived through the rise and fall of several great civilizations, remembering Roman emperors and Egyptian pharaohs, crusaders and Ottoman conquerors. Visiting such places is always exciting and memorable for a lifetime. Let's go with with help GreekReporter will get to know them today to plan the route for your upcoming vacation.

Jericho, Palestine (10th century BC)

Jericho heads the top ten most ancient cities on the planet. It was repeatedly mentioned in biblical texts, and archaeological finds indicate that its lands were inhabited 11.6 thousand years ago.

During the Roman Empire, Mark Antony gave the city to Cleopatra. Here, on the western bank of the Jordan River, Jewish exiles found refuge, crusaders fought, and History was made. During fierce battles, Jericho was completely destroyed; only in the 19th century did archaeologists manage to excavate its ruins.

A modern city has grown up around the historical center of Jericho, with a population of 20.5 thousand people. They are mostly Arabs of Palestinian origin. The location of Jericho is unique – 258 m below sea level. The city has preserved several attractions:

• Orthodox Greek monastery on Mount Karantal (you can get to it by cable car),
• ruins of the Tell es-Sultan palace,
• archaeological site,
• Hisham al-Malik's palace, decorated with unique mosaic patterns.

To be honest, it is worth noting that the city center does not look very presentable.

Damascus, Syria (8th century BC)

The cultural, historical and religious center of the Middle East, Damascus is the oldest habitat. Its history goes back so deep that even ancient historians cannot pinpoint the exact time when this city was founded. Archaeological excavations have been carried out repeatedly on the territory of Damascus. The oldest discovered cultural layer dates back to the Neolithic era, its age is more than 7,000 years.

The most remarkable monuments of the ancient history of Damascus are its fortifications, the citadel, the Umayyad mosque and the old city, which could be entered through ten gates. They were built during Roman rule and bore the names of heavenly bodies.

The gates shared the fate of the fortifications of the old city: some of them were destroyed, others were blocked and ceased to be used for their intended purpose. Today, eight of the gates have been fully or partially preserved.

Damascus is a beautiful city, whose architecture harmoniously intertwines historical monuments and modern buildings.

Byblos, Lebanon (5th century BC)

How old is this city really? Local guides give different figures: some say 6 thousand years, others report 7 and even 8 thousand years. English sources lower the bar to 9 thousand years into history and claim that this is the oldest city on the planet.

Local guides say that the city was named by the Greeks, from where they imported Egyptian papyrus. And the city itself in those days called itself Gubla, then Gebal, and now Jbeil. Something was built here on the site of ancient Phoenician ruins by the Romans, something by the Crusaders, something during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The modern population of Byblos (Jbeil) is 3 thousand people.

Argos, Greece (5th century BC)

Argos dates back to the Mycenaean civilization and is recognized as the most ancient city in Greece and Europe. The main cultural value is the Argive fortress, which has survived to this day, located on Larisa Hill near the city center. In different centuries, Argos was inhabited by Greeks, Byzantines, Venetians, Turks and Crusaders. And each of the peoples introduced unique elements of their culture into the architecture of the city.

Argos, which has a rich history, is now a very modern and active city. There are also buildings in the neoclassical style. For example, the Konstantinopoulio Palace, the mansion of the Greek diplomat, politician and Prime Minister of Greece Charilaos Trikoupi. And also the luxurious Municipal Palace and St. Peter's Church, built in the mid-19th century in the style of a domed basilica.

Athens, Greece (circa 5th century BC)

A city glorified in myths and legends, the second oldest European capital, the center of the Domicenian civilization, the first written indications of which have been preserved since 1600 BC. e. Athens has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. According to legend, the ancient city existed long before the Mycenaean era, but it has not yet been possible to find reliable evidence of this. Athens became the capital of Greece at the beginning of the 19th century.

One of the most significant attractions of Athens is the famous Athenian Acropolis or Cecropia, which is an entire architectural ensemble of ancient buildings. Athens is a real open-air museum. Only here you can see with your own eyes the history of the great past of the extraordinary culture of Ancient Greece. In Athens, everything breathes the history of an ancient and truly great state.

Susa, Iran (IV century BC)

The ancient Iranian city is a major political and commercial center of ancient Elam, then the Persian Empire and the entire Ancient East. Thanks to archaeological excavations, it was possible to lift the veil of secrecy of several disappeared civilizations at once. It was here that the one-time weddings of the conquering warriors of Alexander the Great with Persian women took place, and Susa became the capital of the largest in the 3rd century BC. unification of tribes that laid the foundation for the creation of the Elamite kingdom.

For 3 thousand years there were Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. They were replaced by the Achaemenids (Persians), Macedonians, Parthians, Romans and then the Sasanians. In 638, this territory was occupied 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 and built the modern city of Shush.

Since 2015, Susa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All that remains today of ancient Susa is the platform of the Acropolis, outside of which are scant remains of objects from Persian times, including part of the wall. Although, if you use your imagination, you can see a lot of interesting things.

Sidon, Lebanon (IV century BC)

The ancient Phoenician city is located on the Mediterranean coast in Lebanon. Now his name is Sayda. Nothing in the city remains from ancient times, but there are two Crusader castles and an Old Town from the Arab period. And another ancient legend. Remember the kidnapping of Europa? She was the daughter of Agenor, the king of the rich Phoenician city of Sidon.

There are no ancient ruins in the city. The center is a labyrinth of small streets that are not even very well marked on maps, so in some places you have to navigate at random and sometimes you end up in a dead end. There are a lot of arches, low and bizarre.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria (IV century BC)

The oldest city in Bulgaria and one of the most ancient cities in the world, Plovdiv never ceases to attract travelers with its cultural and historical charm. The age of the city is more than 6 thousand years.

Currently, about 400 thousand people live on its territory, it is the second largest populated area in the country and is second in population only to the capital. The cultural and historical sites presented in Plovdiv are of global value. There are more than 200 world cultural heritage sites in Plovdiv.

The main historical symbol of Plovdiv for many thousands of years has been the ancient theater, which was completely restored and is now used to host the most significant cultural events. Magnificent ancient streets, houses decorated with skillful wood carvings, amazing antique buildings and a huge number of art galleries – this is how Plovdiv appears to modern tourists.

Another important feature of Plovdiv is the fact that almost its entire central area is closed to vehicles; you can admire the beauty of the ancient city while leisurely strolling along its picturesque streets.

Gaziantep, Türkiye (c. 3650 BC)

Gaziantep is called a city of harmonious symbiosis of ancient and modern times. Authentic streets, ancient monuments and modern buildings create its unique appearance. During excavations, historical works of the Persians during the reign of Alexander the Great, the Hittites, the Seleukos, the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires were found here. Many things found by archaeologists date back to the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Gaziantep is not just a historical center, but also a region rich in natural resources, with ancient culture and traditions.

Gaziantep is the culinary capital of Turkey, whose gastronomic brand is sweet dishes made from Antep pistachios. Carpets and fabrics, products made of copper, mother-of-pearl, leather, as well as national musical instruments are produced here. The city has an advantageous location between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, it is considered the abode of the first civilizations. Gaziantep is located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, which stretches from the south to the Mediterranean Sea.

Beirut, Lebanon (4th century BC)

Beirut is one of the oldest cities in the world, founded by the Phoenicians about 5 thousand years ago. After them, the Romans and Arabs, the Crusaders and Mamluks, the Ottomans and the French lived here. The invaders destroyed Beirut to the ground 7 times, but each time it rose from the ruins and was reborn from the ashes, for which it was nicknamed the Phoenix City. A turbulent history at the crossroads of cultures left its mark on the appearance of the city and its inhabitants.

The symbol of Beirut is the Pigeon Rocks, rising from the depths of the sea near the De Gaulle embankment. Beirut is the embodiment of an oriental fairy tale, alluring with golden sand beaches, stunning sunsets, coastal breezes, greenery, bright colors and breathtaking aromas of spices and coffee.

The architectural appearance of the city is unusual and interesting. It combines elements of architecture from different eras and civilizations: antique, oriental, Italian, gothic, baroque.

Larnaca, Cyprus (13th century BC)

Larnaca is located on the very spot where Kition, an ancient city-state on the southern coast of Cyprus, once was. To excavate the entire territory of ancient Kition, it would be necessary to “loose up” almost all of Larnaca. The first settlement on the territory of modern Larnaca appeared in the 13th century BC. and was founded by the Mycenaean Greeks. Subsequently, the city survived several raids and ended up in the possession of the Phoenicians, who successfully engaged in trade throughout the Mediterranean. This was the period of the highest prosperity of Kition: the city port turned into a large trading harbor.

The ruins of ancient Kition were discovered during the drainage of the swamps in 1879. They are located in the northern part of Larnaca, near the city's Archaeological Museum. Time has not been kind to the ancient city – all that remains of the grandiose Kition is an area the size of a football field with scant remains of ancient structures.

Ancient Kition gained fame in connection with the campaign of Cimon of Athens, a politician and strategist of ancient Athens, who died during the siege of the city in an attempt to take it (450 BC). In the 1st century AD The Christianization of Kition began, and its first bishop was Saint Lazarus, who arrived in Cyprus after the resurrection by Christ and lived here until his second death. And the residents of Larnaca are very proud of their fellow countryman Zeno of Citium, who stood at the origins of philosophy. The philosopher’s profile adorns the city’s coat of arms and even the sun loungers on the local beaches.

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