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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 is found in the list of conquered cities of the pharaoh Thutmose III, who lived 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 happened 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 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 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. 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 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.

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, such cities have a lot to see for tourists - amazing sights, sacred places and an 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. The International Byblos Festival 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 broke up the network of canals that still formed the basis 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. The scene of Aeschylus's tragedy "The Persians", the oldest play in the history of the theater, takes place here. About 65,000 people live in the modern city of Shusha.

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 the messages of the 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. Over the course of its long history, the city has been 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, which at various times belonged to the Assyrians, Persians, Sasanians, Arabs and Turks. Erbil was an important settlement on the Great Silk Road, and its ancient fortress, rising 26 meters above the ground, still dominates the city 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).

Year 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 the Atlantic Ocean, dates back to 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 holy 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).

Many ancient cities lay claim to the right to be called the first city on Earth.

We will talk about the two oldest and most ancient cities, according to archaeologists and historians. These two cities are Jericho and Hamukar. These cities existed thousands of years ago.

Jericho

First of all, the definition of “ancient city” refers to Jericho, an oasis near the place where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. The city of Jericho, widely known in the Bible, is located here - the same one whose walls once fell from the sound of the trumpets of Joshua. According to biblical tradition, the Israelites began the conquest of Canaan from Jericho and, after the death of Moses, under the leadership of Joshua, crossing the Jordan, they stood at the walls of this city. The townspeople, hiding behind the city walls, were convinced that the city was impregnable. But the Israelis used an extraordinary military stratagem. They walked around the city walls in a silent crowd six times, and on the seventh they shouted in unison and blew the trumpets, so loudly that the formidable walls collapsed. This is where the expression comes from.

"Trumpet of Jericho" Jericho is fed by the water of the powerful spring Ain es-Sultan ("The Sultan's Source" ), to which the city owes its existence. The Arabs call the name of this source a hill north of modern Jericho - Tell es-Sultan ("Sultan's Mountain"

In 1907 and 1908, a group of German and Austrian researchers, led by Professors Ernst Sellin and Karl Watzinger, first began excavations at Mount Sultana. They came across two parallel fortress walls, built from sun-dried bricks. Exterior wall had a thickness of 2 m and a height of 8-10 m, and the thickness interior wall reached 3.5 m.

Archaeologists have determined that these walls were built between 1400 and 1200 BC. It is clear that they were quickly identified with those walls that, as the Bible reports, collapsed from the powerful sounds of the trumpets of the Israelite tribes. However, during the excavations, archaeologists came across the remains of construction debris, which were of even greater interest to science than the finds that confirmed the Bible’s information about the war. But the first World War suspended further scientific research.

More than twenty years passed before a group of Englishmen, led by Professor John Garstang, was able to continue their research. New excavations began in 1929 and lasted about ten years.

In 1935-1936 Garstang encountered the lowest layers of Stone Age settlements.

He discovered a cultural layer older than the 5th millennium BC, dating back to a time when people did not yet know pottery. But people of this era already led a sedentary lifestyle.

The work of Garstang's expedition was interrupted due to the difficult political situation. And only after the end of World War II did English archaeologists return to Jericho. This time the expedition was led by Dr. Kathleen M. Canyon, with whose activities all further discoveries in this ancient city in the world are associated. To participate in the excavations, the British invited German anthropologists who had been working in Jericho for several years.

In 1953, archaeologists led by Kathleen Canyon made an outstanding discovery that completely changed our understanding of the early history of mankind. Researchers made their way through 40 (!) cultural layers and discovered buildings of the Neolithic period with huge buildings dating back to the time when, it would seem, only nomadic tribes should have lived on Earth, earning their food by hunting and collecting plants and fruits. The results of excavations showed that approximately 10 thousand years ago a qualitative leap was made in the eastern Mediterranean associated with the transition to the artificial cultivation of cereals. This led to drastic changes in culture and lifestyle.

The discovery of early agricultural Jericho was an archeological sensation in the 1950s. Systematic excavations here revealed a whole series of successive layers, united into two complexes: Pre-ceramic Neolithic A (8th millennium BC) and Pre-ceramic Neolithic B (7th millennium BC).

Today, Jericho A is considered the first urban settlement discovered in the Old World. Here are found the earliest permanent structures known to science, burials and sanctuaries, built from earth or small round unbaked bricks.

The pre-ceramic Neolithic settlement A occupied an area of ​​about 4 hectares and was surrounded by a powerful defensive wall made of stone. Adjacent to it was a massive round stone tower. Initially, researchers assumed that this was a tower of a fortress wall. But obviously, it was a special-purpose structure that combined many functions, including the function of a guard post to monitor the surrounding area.

Protected by a stone wall, there were round, tent-like houses on stone foundations with walls made of mud brick, one surface of which was convex (this type of brick is called "pork's back"). To more accurately determine the age of these structures, the latest scientific methods, for example, the radiocarbon (radiocarbon) method.

Nuclear physicists, when studying isotopes, found that it is possible to determine the age of objects by the ratio of radioactive and stable carbon isotopes. Through sounding, it was found that the oldest walls of this city date back to the 8th millennium, that is, their age is approximately 10 thousand years. The sanctuary discovered as a result of excavations was even more ancient - 9551 BC.

There is no doubt that Jericho A, with its settled population and developed construction industry, was one of the first early agricultural settlements on Earth. Based on the many years of research carried out here, historians received a completely new picture of the development and technical capabilities that humanity had 10 thousand years ago.

The transformation of Jericho from a small primitive settlement with miserable huts and huts into a real city with an area of ​​at least 3 hectares and a population of more than 2000 people is associated with the transition of the local population from simple gathering of edible cereals to agriculture - growing wheat and barley. At the same time, researchers have established that this revolutionary step was taken not as a result of some kind of introduction from the outside, but was the result of the development of the tribes living here: archaeological excavations of Jericho showed that in the period between the culture of the original settlement and the culture of the new city, which was built at the turn 9th and 8th millennia BC, life here did not stop.

At first, the town was not fortified, but with the advent of strong neighbors, fortress walls became necessary to protect against attacks. The appearance of fortifications speaks not only of the confrontation between different tribes, but also of the accumulation by the inhabitants of Jericho of certain material assets, attracting the greedy gaze of neighbors. What were these values? Archaeologists have answered this question as well. Probably the main source of income for the townspeople was barter trade: the well-located city controlled the main resources of the Dead Sea - salt, bitumen and sulfur. Obsidian, jade and diorite from Anatolia, turquoise from the Sinai Peninsula, cowrie shells from the Red Sea were found in Jericho - all these goods were highly valued during the Neolithic period.

The fact that Jericho was a powerful urban center is evidenced by its defensive fortifications. Without the use of picks and hoes, a ditch 8.5 m wide and 2.1 m deep was cut into the rock. Behind the ditch rose stone wall 1.64 m thick, preserved at a height of 3.94 m. Its original height probably reached 5 m, and above it was masonry made of mud bricks.

The excavations revealed a large round stone tower with a diameter of 7 m, preserved to a height of 8.15 m, with an internal staircase carefully constructed from single meter-wide stone slabs. The tower contained grain storage and clay-lined cisterns to collect rainwater.

The stone tower of Jericho was probably built at the beginning of the 8th millennium BC. and lasted for a very long time. When it ceased to be used for its intended purpose, crypts for burials began to be built in its internal passage, and the former storage facilities were used as dwellings. These rooms were often rebuilt. One of them, destroyed in a fire, dates back to 6935 BC

After this, archaeologists counted four more periods of existence in the history of the tower, and then the city wall collapsed and began to erode. Apparently, the city was already deserted at this time.

The construction of a powerful defensive system required an enormous amount of labor, the use of significant work force and the presence of some central authority to organize and direct the work. Researchers estimate the population of this first city in the world to be two thousand people, and this figure may be underestimated.

What did these first citizens of the Earth look like and how did they live?

An analysis of the skulls and bone remains found in Jericho showed that 10 thousand years ago, short people - just over 150 cm - with elongated skulls (dolichocephalians), who belonged to the so-called Euro-African race, lived here. They built oval-shaped dwellings from lumps of clay, the floors of which were recessed below ground level. The house was entered through a doorway with wooden jambs. There were several steps leading down. Most houses consisted of a single round or oval room with a diameter of 4-5 m, covered with a vault of intertwined rods. The ceiling, walls and floor were covered with clay. The floors in the houses were carefully leveled, sometimes painted and polished.

The inhabitants of ancient Jericho used stone and bone tools, did not know ceramics and ate wheat and barley, the grains of which were ground on stone grain grinders with stone pestles. From eating too much food, which consisted of cereals and legumes ground in stone mortars, these people’s teeth completely wore out.

Despite a more comfortable habitat than that of primitive hunters, their life was extremely difficult, and the average age of the inhabitants of Jericho did not exceed 20 years. Infant mortality was very high, and only a few lived to be 40-45 years old. There were obviously no people older than this age in ancient Jericho.

The townspeople buried their dead right under the floors of their homes, wearing iconic plaster masks with cowrie shells inserted into the eyes of the masks on their skulls.

It is curious that in the oldest graves of Jericho (6500 BC), archaeologists mostly find headless skeletons. Apparently, the skulls were separated from the corpses and buried separately. The cultic beheading is known in many parts of the world and has been practiced down to our time. Here, in Jericho, scientists apparently encountered one of the earliest manifestations of this cult.

During this “pre-ceramic” period, the inhabitants of Jericho did not use earthenware - they replaced it with stone vessels, carved mainly from limestone. Probably, the townspeople also used all kinds of wickerwork and leather containers like wineskins.

Not knowing how to sculpt pottery, the ancient inhabitants of Jericho also sculpted animal figures and other images from clay. In residential buildings and tombs of Jericho, many clay figurines of animals were found, as well as stucco images of the phallus. The cult of masculinity was widespread in ancient Palestine, and its images are found in other places.

In one of the layers of Jericho, archaeologists discovered a kind of ceremonial hall with six wooden posts. It was probably a sanctuary - a primitive predecessor of the future temple. Inside this room and in its immediate vicinity, archaeologists did not find any household items, but they found numerous clay figurines of animals - horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and models of male genital organs.

The most amazing discovery in Jericho was the stucco figurines of people. They are made from local limestone clay called "hawara" with a reed frame. These figurines are of normal proportions, but flat in front. Nowhere, except for Jericho, have such figurines been encountered by archaeologists before.

Life-size group sculptures of men, women and children were also found in one of the prehistoric layers of Jericho. They were made using cement-like clay, which was spread on a reed frame. These figures were still very primitive and flat: after all, plastic art was preceded for many centuries by rock paintings or images on cave walls. The found figures show how much interest the inhabitants of Jericho showed in the miracle of the origin of life and the creation of a family - this was one of the first and most powerful impressions of prehistoric man.

the emergence of Jericho - the first urban center - testifies to the emergence of high forms of social organization. Even the invasion of more backward tribes from the north in the 5th millennium BC. could not interrupt this process, which ultimately led to the creation of highly developed ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Middle East.

Hamukar

The ruins of a city that scientists believe is at least 6,000 years old have been discovered in Syria. The discovery actually changed traditional ideas about the appearance of cities and civilization on Earth in general. It forces us to consider the spread of civilization in a new light, starting from an earlier time. Before this discovery, cities dating back to 4000 BC were discovered only in ancient Sumer - between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the territory of modern Iraq, while the last, most ancient, was found in the southeastern part of Syria under a huge hill near the village of Hamukar . The mysterious city was also named Hamukar.

For the first time, archaeologists began to actively dig the ground here back in the 1920s -1930s. Then they assumed that it was here that Vashshukani was located - the capital of the Mitanni Empire (approximately the 15th century BC), which had not yet been discovered. But no signs of settlement of this area were found then - “ Vashshukan theory" turned out to be untenable.

Many years passed, and scientists again became interested in this place. And not in vain: after all, it is located on one of the most important transport arteries of antiquity - the road from Nineveh to Aleppo, along which travelers and caravans of merchants stretched. This situation, according to scientists, provided a lot of advantages and created excellent preconditions for the development of the city.

Researchers actually discovered signs indicating its existence back in the middle of the 4th millennium BC.

Then the first cities arose one after another in Southern Iraq, and their colonies were formed in Syria.

This time, archaeologists were determined - in the most literal sense - to get to the bottom of the truth. A special Syrian-American expedition was formed to explore Hamukar, the director of which was McGuire Gibson, a leading researcher at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. The first shovel hit the ground in November 1999. The expedition needed to get used to it, settle in, prepare the excavation area, hire local residents for heavy work...

It all started with the compilation detailed map terrain. And only then, with her help, archaeologists began the next, no less painstaking stage of work: it was necessary to carefully - almost with a magnifying glass in hand - examine the entire excavation area, collecting various shards. Such studies would provide a fairly accurate idea of ​​the size and shape of the settlement. And luck really smiled on archaeologists - ancient cities hidden in the ground “fell out” as if from a cornucopia.

The first settlement found dates back to approximately 3209. BC. and occupied an area of ​​about 13 hectares. It gradually grew, its territory increased to 102 hectares, and subsequently the settlement became one of the largest cities of that time. Then, based on the items found, other, most interesting places for excavations. In the eastern part of the settlement, archaeologists discovered a building in which pots were fired. And the main result of the inspection of the area was the discovery of a large settlement south of the hill. Its more detailed study confirmed that this territory began to be settled at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. If all the discovered settlements are recognized as one city, then its area will be more than 250, which is hard to believe. At that time, in the era of the birth of the first urban settlements, such Big city was a real metropolis of antiquity.

Satellites have helped scientists well. The photographs taken from them gave the researchers another idea when, 100 m from the hill, on its northern and eastern sides, they discerned a dark, twisting line, similar to a city wall, while only a small slope was visible on the ground. Further examination showed that the wall could have been located closer to the hill, and the slope was preserved from a ditch that supplied the city with water.

Excavations were carried out in three zones. The first is a trench 60 m long and 3 m wide, running along the northern slope of the hill. Its gradual digging made it possible for archaeologists to examine the development of the settlement in different eras, since each step was 4-5 m lower than the next. So: the lowest layer that scientists reached showed a city 6000 years ago!

On the next level, walls of several houses made of clay bars were discovered, as well as a huge, possibly city wall, 4 meters high and 4 meters thick. The remains of pottery underneath date back to the middle of the 4th millennium BC. Next comes a level dating back to 3200 BC. Ceramics from here refer to the creativity of the peoples of Southern Iraq, which indicates the interaction of the Syrian and Mesopotamian peoples at that time.

These houses are followed by “younger” buildings, built in the 3rd millennium BC. There are already baked brick houses and wells here. Directly above one of the houses there is a later building - from the mid-1st millennium - and then there is a modern cemetery.

Another excavation area was replete with shards. It was divided into sections of five square meters And they carefully “shoveled” all the earth. Archaeologists have discovered houses here with perfectly preserved clay walls. And inside there were huge quantities of things from days gone by - all covered with a thick layer of ash. This created great difficulties for scientists: try to find burnt fragments in the cracks of the floors, in various irregularities and holes.

Soon the sources of such abundant ash were found - in one room the remains of four or five slabs made of clay bars, which were partially burned when the stoves were heated, were excavated. Around the slabs there were remains of barley, wheat, oats, and animal bones. Therefore, power stoves are used for baking bread, brewing beer, cooking meat and other products.

The ceramics discovered here amazed scientists with their diversity: large pots for preparing ordinary food, small vessels, as well as small elegant vessels, the walls of which are equal to the thickness of an ostrich egg shell. Figurines with large eyes were also found in the houses, possibly some deities from the middle of the 4th millennium BC.

But still, 15 seals in the form of carefully drawn animals tell the most complete story about the society of that era. All of them were found in one hole, presumably a grave. Also found here were a huge number of beads made of bone, earthenware, stone and shells, some of them were so small in size that it can be assumed that they were not used as necklaces, but were woven or sewn into clothing.

The seals are carved from stone in the shape of animals. One of the largest and most beautiful seals is made in the form of a leopard, the spots on which are made using small pins inserted into drilled holes. A seal was also found, not inferior to a leopard print in beauty - in the form of a horned animal, which, unfortunately, the horns broke off. Large seals are much more varied, but there are far fewer of them than small ones, the main types of which are lion, goat, bear, dog, hare, fish and birds. The larger, more elaborate seals must have belonged to people of great power or wealth, while the smaller ones may have been used by others to denote private property.

In a small pit two meters deep in the north-eastern part of the excavation, just below the surface, the researchers discovered a wall dating back to the 7th century. AD, and a meter lower - the corner of the building, strengthened by a support with two niches. The support was installed next to the door that leads to the east. The door jamb, buttress, niches and south wall are covered with lime. Typically, such supports with niches were installed not near private, but near temple buildings. Shards of pottery found near the temple point to the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, that is, the Akkadian period, when the rulers of Akkad, a state in southern Mesopotamia, began expanding into what is now Syria. Since this is a critical period in the history of Mesopotamia, the place where so many eras are intertwined becomes the main focus of the expedition's forces in the next season.

Previously, historians assumed that the Syrian and Turkish states began to actively develop only after contact with representatives of Uruk, an ancient state in Southern Iraq. But the excavations of Hamukar prove that highly developed societies appeared not only in the Tigris-Euphrates valley, but also in other areas at the same time. Some researchers even believe that civilization originally began in Syria. The discovery actually changed traditional ideas about the emergence of cities and civilization in general, forcing us to consider its birth and spread at an earlier time.

While it was previously believed that civilization began in the Uruk period (ca. 4000 BC), there is now evidence of its existence as far back as the Ubaid period (ca. 4500 BC). This means that the development of the first states began before the advent of writing and other phenomena considered criteria for the emergence of civilization. Vital connections began to form between different peoples, and people exchanged experiences. Civilization began to march across the planet with leaps and bounds!

The excavations of Hamukar promise many more discoveries, because this the only place, where the layers are 4000 BC. lie two meters from the surface and even higher.

Based on materials from 100velikih.com and bibliotekar.ru

Every city has its own history of creation, but not every one of them can boast of centuries-old existence. Some settlements that exist today were formed a very long time ago. The age of many cities has been established with the help of archaeological and historical researchers, whose conclusions indicate the approximate time of their appearance. Based on these data, the rating was compiled: oldest cities in the world, where the most ancient urban settlements of our planet are considered.

This city is known to many residents of all countries, as it contains holy places of Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is also called the city of peace and the city of three religions. The first traces of humans on the territory of Jerusalem appeared already in 2800 BC. e., therefore it can rightfully be considered one of the oldest cities in the world.

During its history, Jerusalem has gone through multiple wars, two times they tried to completely destroy it, but to this day it delights us with its grandeur and beauty and happily welcomes pilgrims from all over the world. In Jerusalem, centuries-old traditions are mixed in a striking way different nations, which is expressed in historical monuments, the culture of local residents and unique architecture.

Beirut ranks 9th in the ranking of the oldest cities in the world. According to various sources, the city appeared 3000-5000 BC. e. During its existence, Beirut was destroyed several times, but it was always possible to restore it.

Excavations were repeatedly carried out on the territory of the Lebanese capital, during which various artifacts belonging to Phoenician, Ottoman, Roman and many other ethnic communities were found. According to research, written mentions of Beirut date back to the 14th century BC. e. Now the city is the tourist center of Lebanon. Its population is 361,000 people.

Gaziantep is one of the oldest cities in Turkey and the world. It is located close to the Syrian border. Its settlement occurred in 3650 BC. e. Until 1921, the city had a different name – Antep, after which the title “gazi” was added to it, which means brave. In ancient times, crusades passed through the city, and in 1183, during Ottoman Empire Mosques and inns began to be built in Gaziantep, and later it became a shopping center.

The modern city is inhabited by Turks, Arabs and Kurds, their approximate number is 850,000 people. Every year Gaziantep is visited by crowds of tourists from different countries. There is a lot to see here: ruins of ancient cities, museums, bridges and other unique attractions.

The first settlements in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv appeared 4000 BC. e. According to some reports, it is the oldest city in Europe, which is why it is ranked 7th in the ranking of the oldest cities in the world. In 342 BC. e. Plovdiv was called differently - Odris. This name can be seen on ancient bronze coins.

In the 6th century the city was under the control of Slavic tribes; later it became part of the Bulgarian kingdom and was renamed Pyldin. During its subsequent history, the city fell under the rule of the Byzantines several times and returned again to the Bulgarians. In 1364, Plovdiv was captured by the Ottomans. The modern city is famous for its large number of historical architectural monuments and other attractions known far beyond the borders of Bulgaria.

This Egyptian city appeared around 4000 BC. e. It is located on the territory of another ancient city of Crocodilopolis, southwest of Cairo. The fact that it is one of the oldest cities in the world is evidenced by excavations that confirm the visit of the city by the pharaohs of the 12th dynasty. In those days the city was called Shedet, which translated means sea.

Currently, Al-Fayoum is filled with numerous markets, bazaars and mosques. The city has an unusual infrastructure with various attractions. Rose oil is produced here and exotic fruits and cereals are grown.

The oldest city in Lebanon began its existence 4000 BC. e. It is located 40 km from the capital. According to historical data, it is known that Jesus and the Apostle Paul visited it. During the time of the Phoenicians, it was the largest trading center in the Mediterranean. The seaport built in the Phoenician era has survived to this day.

Sidon was part of various states and empires many times. It was considered one of the most impregnable cities. Now about 200,000 people live here.

The very first settlements in Susa appeared in 4200 BC. e., the city is mentioned in ancient Sumerian chronicles, as well as in old testament and others scriptures. The city had the status of the capital of the Elamite Empire until it was captured by the Assyrians. In 668, a battle took place during which the city was sacked and burned. Ten years later, the Elamite Empire disappeared.

One of the most ancient cities of Susa suffered bloody massacres and destruction many times, but each time it was rebuilt. Currently, the city of Susa is called Shush; its population is about 65 thousand people, mostly Muslims and Jews.

One of the three oldest cities in the world is Byblos, not known as Jebeil. This Lebanese city was founded in the 4th-5th millennium BC. e. It was built by the Phoenicians and gave it the name Gebal. On its territory there are many Phoenician shrines, as well as the Church of John the Baptist. The city began to be called Biblios by the ancient Greeks, who visited the city and purchased papyrus here. In ancient times, Biblios was the largest port.

The Biblios writings have never been translated; they still remain a mystery left by the ancient city. They bear no resemblance to any of the writing systems of that time.

The second position is occupied by the ancient city of Damascus. The first mentions of it date back to the 15th century BC. e. During this period of time, it was dominated by egyptian pharaohs. Later the city was the center of the Damascus kingdom. During the rest of its existence, Damascus repeatedly became part of different states and empires. It is known that the Apostle Paul visited Damascus, and it was then that the first Christians appeared here.

Currently, Damascus is the cultural capital and the second largest Syrian city, with more than 1.5 million people living here.

The top of the pedestal rightfully belongs to the oldest city in the world - Jericho. Historians have discovered on its territory the remains of ancient settlements that settled here back in the 9th millennium BC. e. The city is located on the banks of the holy Jordan River and is known to many from the biblical scriptures.

Modern Jericho is a real living museum of ancient monuments. Here you can see the ruins remaining from the palace of King Herod, visit the source of the holy prophet Elisha and visit various Orthodox shrines. Currently its population is more than 20,000 people.

Despite the ongoing debate about the origin of each ancient settlement, there is a more or less agreed upon list that includes the oldest cities in the world in which life continued uninterrupted and are now inhabited.

One of the oldest

Topping this list is Jericho, which is mentioned more than once in the Bible under the name “city of palm trees,” although the name is translated from Hebrew as “city of the moon.” Historians date the date of its origin as a settlement to the 7th millennium BC, although some of the found traces of habitation date back to the 9th millennium. That is, people lived here during the Chalcolithic or before the ceramic Neolithic. It so happened that the location of Jericho has been on the warpath since time immemorial; again, the Bible contains a description of the capture of the city. It passed endlessly from hand to hand, last time happened in 1993, when Jericho went to Palestine. Repeatedly over the course of thousands of years, residents abandoned it, but always returned and rebuilt. Now located 10 km from the Dead Sea, Jericho is readily visited by tourists, as it is rich in attractions (for example, King Herod’s compound was here). In addition, this oldest city on earth is also unique in that it is, so to speak, the deepest populated area, as it is located 240 meters below sea level.

Which one is older?

Second (sometimes challenging the primacy) on the list of “The Most Ancient Cities of the World” is modern Syria. Its origin also dates back to prehistoric times, but it became a major city after the Aramean invasion, dating back to 1400 BC. One of the most charming cities in the Middle East, it is full of attractions. Just look at the fact that it is included in the list of the greatest temples in the world, in which the head is kept. The city is so ancient that there is a belief that the first wall built on earth after the Flood was the Damascus Wall. The old city, which has not changed its appearance for many centuries, is also surrounded by a wall, but it was erected during the time of Ancient Rome.

Also the most ancient

Rounding out the top three settlements list of “The Ancient Cities of the World” Lebanese Bible. Needless to say, in some lists he is listed as second, or even first, in seniority. These three cities arose long before the Copper Age, but since then they have been continuously inhabited. Byblos is located in the suburbs of Beirut. The very name of the city suggests that it was once a biblical city and was called Gebal. A Phoenician settlement, in ancient times it was a center of trade in papyri, and now it is a famous tourist attraction. It is interesting because a small number of inscriptions found on ancient artifacts have not yet been deciphered, because this type of proto-biblical writing does not have spaces. There are about 100 signs, but few inscriptions. The date of the emergence of the next city of Susa is disputed, as is the largest city of modern Syria, Aleppo - some believe that these cities already existed in the 7th millennium BC, others do not.

Closing the list of “most ancient”

The birth of subsequent cities dates back to the 4th millennium BC. Not all of the most frequently cited lists called “The Ancient Cities of the World” mention the Crimean Feodosia, although on the territory of Russia it was considered the “eternal city”, since it was founded, according to some sources, in the 6th century BC and was known as Ardabra .

The ten most ancient settlements also include such settlements as Lebanese Sidon (4 thousand BC). The emergence of the Egyptian Fayoum (Greek Crocodilefield) and the Bulgarian Plovdiv dates back to the same time. Turkish Gaziantep and the Lebanese capital Beirut are several centuries younger. Further on the list, the following cities are most often mentioned: Jerusalem, Tire, Erbil, Kirkuk, Jaffa. All of them arose many centuries before our chronology and belong to the “most ancient”.

The oldest in Russia

The most common lists called “Ancient Cities of the World” do not include Derbent, Zurich, or Ningbo, although they have at least a 6,000-year history of existence behind them. Thus, Derbent (from Arabic Bab-al-Abwab - its name is translated as “gate of the gate” or “big gate”), according to some sources, was already a populated area in the 4th millennium BC. This southernmost city of the Russian Federation already existed. Translated from Azerbaijani, its name sounds like “closed gate”. It is located in the isthmus between the Caucasus Range and the western shore of the Caspian Sea. This ancient settlement has always been a gateway on the route of caravans traveling from Europe to Asia.

Also “ancient”

Most people associate the concept of ancient Europe primarily with Greece. However, Swiss Zurich is much older. The first settlements on its territory arose in 4430-4230 BC, that is, in the 5th millennium.

Closer to our chronology, it was conquered by the Celts, then the settlement became part of the Roman Empire, and at that time it was already mentioned under the name Turicum. The Chinese city of Ningbo, which is directly related to the Hemudu culture that existed in the 5th millennium BC, according to some claims, was already inhabited in the Neolithic era. Archeology does not stand still, and the list of the most ancient cities on the planet will include new names.

Closer to our chronology

The list of “Ancient Cities of the World” is much broader than the “Ancient” list, because many civilizations belong to the 2nd millennium BC. The locations of human settlements that emerged during these centuries extend beyond the Middle East. In Europe, these are primarily cities. In this territory, the list of “Permanently populated cities of the ancient world” is headed by Athens. Notes about this city-state also begin with the words that these places were inhabited back in the Neolithic era. But Athens is described in detail, starting from the Late Helladic period, that is, from 1700-1200 BC. The golden age for this powerful polis began in the middle of the 1st millennium, during the reign of Pericles. Legendary monuments known throughout the world were built during this period, which was quite well studied and described by the ancient Greek classics. Historical evidence such as the works of Bacchelides, Hyperides, Menander and Herodes written on papyri has survived to this day. The works of later, world-famous Greek authors formed the basis for the popular “Myths and Legends” by N. Kuhn. Ancient Greek philosophy, science, and culture are the foundation of modern knowledge.

Extensive list

The names of the ancient cities of the world represent a very extensive list, occupying more than one page, because the period of Antiquity ends in our chronology and has a specific date - 476 AD, marking the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This period is well studied, and the existence of many cities is documented.

Therefore, from the entire huge list, we can name several settlements that are known to literally everyone. It will also include cities that disappeared from the face of the earth, but remained in historical records or the memory of descendants. These include such great cities of the Ancient World as Babylon and Palmyra, Pompeii and Thebes, Chichen Itza and Ur, Pergamon and Cusco, ancient Greek Knossos and Mycenae, many cities in Asia and other continents. The mysteries of the ruins of these cities have yet to be solved. For example, the mysterious Angkor, lost in the jungle - heart of stone Cambodia, rediscovered to the world in the mid-19th century, although its history dates back to the second century AD. Or located on the top of a mountain, located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, the no less mysterious Machu Picchu. This ancient “city in the sky” is located in Peru.

The highlight of the city

The ancient city of Demre in comparison with the above settlements is simply young. The first mentions of it date back to the 5th century (not millennium) BC. But known in ancient times as Mira, it is famous not only for its extraordinary architectural monuments, but primarily for the fact that St. Nicholas, aka St. Nicholas the Pleasant, the Wonderworker, aka St. Nicholas and Santa Claus, studied, lived and became famous here. The most wonderful tradition of giving new Year gifts came from this city. The initiator was Saint Nicholas, the first bishop of Myra. The ancient city of Demre is a very popular tourist site.

The route “Demre-Mira-Kekova” is in great demand. The city has preserved a beautiful ancient Roman theater, the size of which allows one to judge the significance of this large seaside center in antiquity. Kekova is an island. It is notable for the fact that its banks are a continuation of the walls of the city that sank as a result of the earthquake. The modern city of Demre, which is the center of the province of the same name in Turkey, is very good.

Very short list

The ancient cities of the world are mysterious and beautiful. The list of the most famous is: Byblos, Jericho and Aleppo, followed by Susa, Damascus, Fayoum and Plovdiv. It would be fair to point out Derbent and Zurich, “ the eternal City» Rome, as well as several localities ancient China(Ningbo, Changsha, Changzhou and others).

The disappeared Babylon, Palmyra, Pompeii, Ur and Mycenae complement this more than modest list of cities of antiquity. The ancient Persian Persipolis boasts unique sights. At one time it was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire, which founded a huge state in the 6th-5th centuries BC, which was later conquered by Alexander the Great. All ancient cities are surrounded by legends, which are very interesting to get to know.