Ancient cities remain crowded and bustling for thousands of years

Traces of the ancient city of Sidon, Lebanon. (Source: World Atlas)

Historical continuity, archaeological evidence, and level of urban development are three of the factors considered when determining the world's “oldest city.”

There are dozens of cities in the world that have been inhabited for thousands of years. The oldest cities in the world have one thing in common: they have stood the test of time and witnessed the ups and downs of human history.

Jericho, West Bank

Panoramic view of the city of Jericho from above. (Source: World Atlas)

Jericho, near the Jordan River in the West Bank, is often referred to as the "oldest continuously inhabited city" with a history stretching back to 10,000 BC to the present.

Early settlements from the Natufian culture developed into pre-city structures during the Neolithic period, including the Tower of Jericho dating to 8,000 BC, making it the oldest stone building discovered.

It is amazing that Jericho has been inhabited throughout its history, despite its location below sea level. This fact also makes the city the lowest permanently inhabited place on Earth.

Today, Jericho has around 20,000 residents. Despite current challenges such as water shortages, Jericho’s archaeological legacy remains in a class of its own.

Byblos, Lebanon

Jbeil Port, Byblos city, on the Mediterranean coast. (Source: World Atlas )

A coastal city in modern Lebanon, Byblos has a long history dating back to the Neolithic period, around 8,000 BC.

Archaeologists believe that Byblos was a continuously inhabited city for about 5,000 years.

Byblos' historical significance is marked by its World Heritage status recognized by UNESCO in 1984.

The enchanting ruins of this ancient city, such as Byblos Castle, ancient temples and the Phoenician Royal Necropolis, attest to its ancient past and continue to fascinate visitors.

Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo City, Syria. (Source: World Atlas)

A recent excavation has shown that the Aleppo area has been inhabited since around 13,000 years ago. This makes Aleppo and the surrounding area the oldest human settlement on Earth.

Due to its location between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, and at the end of the Silk Road, which passed through Central Asia, Aleppo was the center of the ancient world.

In modern times, it is still Syria's most populous city, however, the city was severely damaged during the civil war from 2011-2020, which unfortunately led to the destruction of many valuable ancient artifacts and entire archaeological sites.

Damascus, Syria

Damascus Center, Syria. (Source: World Atlas)

According to research and historical evidence, Damascus is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of life dating back at least 11,000 years.

Damascus was a prominent cultural center of the Arab countries, witnessing the rise and fall of many civilizations.

Today Damascus is a metropolitan area of ​​over 2 million inhabitants and was named the Capital of Arab Culture in 2008.

Susa, Iran

Castle and ruins of the ancient Achaemenid Palace in Susa, Iran. (Source: World Atlas)

In southwestern Iran there is an ancient city that has many names and is today called Susa, the administrative capital of Shush district, Khuzestan province.

Founded around 4,400 BC, Susa became an important center of the ancient Elamite, Persian, and Parthian Empires.

It was one of the most important cities of the Ancient Near East (home to early civilizations in an area corresponding to the modern Middle East)..

In its heyday, the city of Susa was magnificent with its palaces and great temples, especially the magnificent Palace of Darius. The importance of the city is mentioned many times in ancient texts, such as the Old Testament.

Faiyum, Egypt

An archaeological site in Egypt's Faiyum province. (Source: World Atlas)

Faiyum is a lush oasis in the middle of the desert, located 130km southwest of present-day Cairo. The city has been continuously inhabited for millennia.

Faiyum is considered one of the oldest cities in Egypt in particular and Africa in general, dating back to around 5,200 BC.

The city was once part of the ancient Crocodilopolis, the most important Greek cultural center of Sobek, where the crocodile god was worshiped.

Faiyum's strategic location facilitated trade routes, enhancing its economic significance during the Roman period.

During the Middle Ages, Muslim rulers also valued Faiyum and developed the city further. During the 19th and 20th centuries, improvements in irrigation turned Faiyum into an important agricultural region.

Today, Faiyum is still a vibrant city with many large markets and mosques. The Bahr Yussef Canal flows through the city, along both banks of the canal are bustling houses of the residents.

Sidon, Lebanon

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Sidon Coast, Lebanon. (Source: World Atlas)

Inhabited for at least 6,000 years, Sidon was one of the most important Phoenician cities because of its position as a key port on the Mediterranean.

However, this same factor also led to the city being conquered by major empires around the world, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans.

Today, there are about 200,000 people living in Sidon. Visitors to Sidon can visit the Temple of Eshmun, built in the 7th century BC and still quite intact.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv city center, Bulgaria. (Source: World Atlas)

Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement, and a major Roman city. It was also ruled by the Ottomans for a time. Evidence of life here dates back 6,000 years.

Today, Plovdiv remains the second largest city in Bulgaria, and an important economic, cultural and educational center.

The city has a well-preserved old town with 19th-century Bulgarian Renaissance architecture - a testament to Plovdiv's revival after Ottoman rule.

Athens, Greece

Athens, Egypt. (Source: Britannica)

As the capital and largest city of Greece, Athens is the cradle of ancient Western civilization. Athens has a rich history that predates the times of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The city has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years.

The oldest known human presence in Athens has been dated to the 11th to 7th millennium BC. Today, it remains a large and bustling metropolis.

Argos, Greece

Traces of the ancient city of Argos, Greece. (Source: Britannica)

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Argos has been continuously inhabited for 7,000 years and competes with Athens for the title of oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe.

Its location in the fertile Argolis plain gave Argos a position of power.

According to researchers, Argos remained neutral throughout history, and did not participate in the Greco-Persian Wars.

Today, Argos has around 22,000 inhabitants and many ancient ruins can be found here.

Luoyang, China

The relics of Luoyang city during the Sui and Tang dynasties are preserved and become a National Relics Park. (Source: Xinhua)

Luoyang is famous for being the oldest continuously inhabited city in Asia. Located on the central plain of China, Luoyang is one of the seven ancient capitals of China and is also the oldest city in the country.

The city has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, with continuous occupation for at least 4,000 years. Located at the confluence of the Luo River and the Yi River, the city is considered the geographical center of ancient China.

Varanasi, India

Varanasi city is located on the banks of the Ganges River in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. (Source: Daily Express)

According to Hindu legend, Varanasi is over 5,000 years old and is considered one of the oldest cities in the world, although evidence of life dates back only about 3,000 years.

Despite its modest age, it is the oldest city in India and is considered the holiest city in the world for Hindus.

VNA

Source: http://www.baovanhoa.vn/the-gioi/artmid/425/articleid/68619/nhung-thanh-pho-co-dai-van-dong-duc-tap-nap-suot-hang-nghin-nam