The World’s Oldest Cities …Travelers Alike

There is a certain old world aesthetic attached to the historic cities in the world. As a history buff, I’ve always wanted to visit these cities. The amount of carnage they have witnessed through the years, the historical monuments, and its cultural and social importance; all only add to the persona. You always wonder what life was like in these cities. How did people live in them? What transpired in these great cities? Archaeologists have found some of them being dated all the way back to 1000 BC. Unfortunately, some of these cities witness unrest even to this day. Some have been destroyed and have become unhabitable and raging with war.

Here are a few cities that are known to be the oldest cities in the world.

1. Damascus, Syria

Damascus is the largest city in Syria. It’s widely believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It’s been in the possession of Romans, the Arabs and the Ottamans. With its vast history, it obviously attracts tourists from all over the world, until recently when unrest struck.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 4,300 BC.

Famous for: Umayyad Mosque, the city’s greatest tourist attraction is said to be home to the head of John the Baptist. It also contains the mausoleum of Saladin and is believed by Muslims to be the place where Jesus (Isa) will return at the End of Days.

2. Jericho, Palestine/West Bank

Jericho is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. Jericho has remained inhabited and dry throughout history, despite it being located below sea level. Many records of settlements in Jericho date back to 11, 000 years.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 9,000 BC.

Famous for: St. George Orthodox Monastery in Wadi Qelt which was built in the late 5th century AD by John of Thebes, the monastery clings to the cliffs of Wadi Qelt. The monastery has been destroyed and restored across the centuries and is open today to pilgrims and visitors.

3. Aleppo, Syria

This city has a lot of history to it! Aleppo was at the center of the ancient world. It’s also one of the largest cities in Syria. There has been mention of the city in the cunieform tablets from 5,000 years ago. The city hasn’t been touched by archaeologists since the modern city occupies the ancient site. Aleppo was under the control of Assyrians, Greeks and Persians. It was later occupied by the Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, besieged by the Crusaders and then taken by the Mongols and Ottomans. It was the end of the Silk Route that passed through Mesopotamia.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 4,300 BC.

Famous for: Aleppo Citadel which was built in the 13th Century, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tragically, the citadel was damaged last year by bomb blasts. The BBC has reported that fighting on the ground and government airstrikes have destroyed more than 60% of the Old City.

4. Athens, Greece

Athens spans across history recordings for over 3,400 years. It’s the cradle of Western Civilization. Democracy was born in Athens. It boasts a history of habitation that goes back long before the days of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The Acropolis at Athens is a remainder of the beautiful ancient city that once flourished.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 1,400 BC.

Famous for: Amongst many old and ruined monuments, Athens hosts the Acropolis and the Pathenon.

5. Varanasi, India

Image credit: Saavari

Wondering where India is in all this? Fear not. Varanasi makes to this list.

Varanasi is situated on the west bank of the Ganges. Varanasi, also known as Benaras is an important holy city for both Hindus and Buddhists. Mark Twain said, “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 1,000 BC.

Famous for: The city has many the holy Ganges flowing through it and has been regarded as a Holy city for long. According to history, it was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva 5,000 years ago, though scholars believe it to be around 3,000 years old.

6. Byblos, Lebanon

Byblos is located on the Mediterranean coast of present-day Lebanon, about 26 miles (42 kilometers) north of Beirut. Archaeologists love Byblos for the layers of debris resulting from centuries of habitation. The Greeks named the city and they used to import papyrus from Byblos.

The city has some famous tourist sites including the ancient Phoenician temples, the old Medieval wall, Byblos Castle and St John the Baptist Church, which were built by the crusaders in the 12th century.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 5,000 BC.

Famous for: The castle of Byblos which was built in the 12th century by Crusaders. It was dismantled by the Sultan of Egypt, and was rebuilt by the Crusaders after they recaptured Byblos. It also has a Phoenician necropolis and a few Egyptian temples around it.

7. Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the spiritual centre of the Jewish people and Islam’s third-holiest city. Its history has been as gruesome as ever and it houses many key religious monuments such as the Western Wall etc. During its history, the city has been besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, captured 44 times and destroyed twice.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 2,800 BC.

Famous for: The Western Wall, The Dome of The Rock and The tower of David. Jerusalem is holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. It’s also considered one of the world’s foremost pilgrimage destinations.

8. Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon. The city has been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history. Its history stretches back to almost 5,000 years. It was in the center of the Lebanese civil war and ever since been a modern tourist attraction.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 3,000 BC.

Famous for: The National Museum of Beirut is the city’s first cultural institution shows Lebanon’s history and features pieces from the Bronze and Iron ages as well as from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Mamluk periods.

9. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv has adapted to modern society while still maintaining the ruins from the past. It also happens to be the second largest city in Bulgaria. Originally a Thracian settlement, it later became a major Roman city before falling to the Byzantines and Ottomans. The city boasts of many historical sites, like a Roman amphitheater, aqueduct and Turkish baths.

Earliest Habitation Dates Back To: 4,000 BC.

Famous for: The Roman theatre in Plovdiv was built during the rule of Emperor Trajan. The theatre was only uncovered recently after a massive landslide in 1972. It’s restored and now used as a venue for special events and concerts.

Know of anymore ancient cities? Have you been to any of these cities? Tell us in the comments below.

COURTESY MSN.COM