A quick visit to the oldest inhabited cities in the world

Athens is known as the “cradle of ancient civilization”, as Athens ranked only 16th in the classification of the oldest settlements in the world, as it has a history that extends back to “3400 years ago.” While the first inhabited city in the world was established 11,000 years ago.

Learn about the ranking of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, which was published by the British Telegraph magazine.

10. Beirut - Lebanon

The first evidence of habitation: 3000 BC

Population: 2 million

The capital of Lebanon is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the country, but it is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in the region and is a city with a history of more than 5,000 years. Archaeological excavations revealed traces of the Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab, and Ottoman civilizations.

9. Gaziantep - Turkey

The first evidence of habitation: 3,650 BC.

Population: 1.4 million people

Gaziantep, the sixth largest city in Turkey, is located in the south of the country, near the border with Syria. Initially, this residential settlement was named Aïntap, and after several centuries it was renamed Antep. Since 1921 the name has been changed to Gaziantep.

8. Plovdiv - Bulgaria

The first evidence of habitation: 4000 BC

Population: 400,000 people

Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria after the capital, Sofia. Over 6,000 years ago Plovdiv was founded by the Thracians, after which it became an important Roman city and later came under Ottoman control before becoming part of Bulgaria. It still contains many ancient buildings, including the amphitheater and the Roman aqueduct, as well as the Turkish baths.

7. Saida - Lebanon

The first evidence of habitation: 4000 BC

Population: 260,000 people

Located about 40 km from Beirut, Sidon is one of the most important settlements of the Phoenician civilization. Founded over 6,000 years ago, Sidon is said to have been visited by both Jesus and Saint Paul. Also, the city gates were crushed by Alexander the Great who conquered the city in 333 BC.

6. Fayoum - Egypt

The first evidence of habitation: 4000 BC

Population: 350,000 people

In ancient times, Faiyum was part of the city of Crocodilopolis, which worshiped the sacred crocodile Petochus. Nowadays, tourists arriving in Fayoum can visit some wonderful markets, squares, mosques, and the pyramids of Lehin and Hawara, just a short distance from the city.

5. Souza - Iran

The first evidence of habitation: 4200 BC

Population: 65,000 people

With a history dating back more than 6,200 years, Susa was the capital of an ancient empire before it was conquered by the Assyrians. Later, the city was conquered many times by the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Seleucid Empire, and Parthia. The modern city of Shush is located on the same site as the ancient city of Susa, which was destroyed in the third century BC by Shapur I.

4 . Damascus, Syria

The first evidence of habitation: 4300 BC

Population: 2.8 million people

Damascus is the capital of Syria as well as the oldest existing capital in the world. There are opinions that the city has been inhabited since 10,000 BC, but not all specialists agree on this. Over the years, Damascus was occupied by the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans, but it is currently one of the most important Arab cities and is a regional economic, cultural, and political center.

3 . Aleppo, Syria

The first evidence of habitation: 4300 BC

Population: 4 million people

Located 310 kilometers from Damascus and less than 50 kilometers from the border with Turkey, Aleppo is the largest city in Syria as well as one of the oldest. Located at the intersection of major trade routes since ancient times, Aleppo was ruled by several kingdoms. The city was founded under the name Aleppo and was called Peru by the Greeks and Romans.

2. Byblos - Lebanon

The first evidence of habitation: 5000 BC

Population: 100,000 people

Today the Lebanese call it Byblos. The city was the capital of Phenicia in 1200 BC, and current tourist attractions include several Phoenician temples that have survived from antiquity such as the Byblos Castle and the Church of St. John the Baptist, which was built in the 12th century.

1. Jericho - Palestine

The first evidence of habitation: 9000 BC

Population: 20,000 people

Jericho is a Palestinian city located less than 30 km from Jerusalem and is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Archaeologists believe that the place has been inhabited without interruption for 11,000 years. It is also the settlement with the world's first fortifications, with the city being described as the "City of Palms".