10 Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities in The World

Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities in The World: This is a list of present-day cities by the time period over which they have been continuously inhabited. The oldest cities in the world boast beautiful architecture and amazing stories, yet remarkably few ancient cities stand today. There is some disagreement about the historical record; So we’ve added a few cities to this list because of the area’s religious or cultural significance.

1. Jericho, Palestinian Territories

Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities

The world’s oldest continually-inhabited city, Jericho is a Palestinian city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank. It is the administrative seat of the Jericho Governorate. The city was occupied by Jordan from 1948 to 1967, and has been held under Israeli occupation since 1967; administrative control was handed over to the Palestinian Authority in 1994.

It is known in Judeo-Christian tradition as the place of the Israelites’ return from bondage in Egypt, led by Joshua, the successor to Moses. Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of more than 20 successive settlements in Jericho. The first of which dates back 11,000 years (9000 BCE); Almost to the very beginning of the Holocene epoch of the Earth’s history.

2. Byblos, Lebanon

Byblos public beach

Founded as Gebal by the Phoenicians, Byblos was given its name by the Greeks, who imported papyrus from the city. It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl. And it was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades.

It is believed to have been occupied first between 8800 and 7000 BC. And according to fragments attributed to the semi-legendary pre-Trojan war Phoenician historian Sanchuniathon, it was built by Cronus as the first city in Phoenicia. Today it is believed by many to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world.

3. Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world; it has been inhabited since perhaps as early as the 6th millennium BC. Syria’s most populated city with around 4.4 million citizens Aleppo was founded as Halab in around 4,300 BC. As the ancient site is occupied by the modern city it is barely touched by archaeologists.

The city was under Hittite control until around 800 BC, before passing through Assyrian, Greek and Persian hands. It was later occupied by the Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, besieged by the Crusaders and then taken by the Mongols and Ottomans.

4. Damascus, Syria

Damascus, Syria

The capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo. Damascus commonly known in Syria as ash-Sham and nicknamed as the City of Jasmine. Cited by some sources as the world’s oldest inhabited city. Damascus may have been inhabited as early as 10,000 BC, also this is debated.

It became an important settlement after the arrival of the Aramaeans, who established a network of canals, which still form the basis of its modern water networks. Another of Alexander the Great’s conquests, Damascus has since been in Roman, Arab and Ottoman possession. Today, its wealth of historical attraction make it a popular tourist destination.

5. Susa, Iran

Susa, Iran

Susa was an ancient city of the Elamite, Persian and Parthian empires of Iran. It is located in the lower Zagros Mountains about 250 km (160 mi) east of the Tigris River, between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers. In historic literature, Susa appears in the very earliest Sumerian records; E.g. in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta it is described as one of the places obedient to Inanna, patron deity of Uruk.

In urban history, Susa is one of the oldest-known settlements of the region and the world. Based on C14 dating the time of foundation of a settlement there is as early as 4395 BCE. The modern Iranian town of Shush is located at the site of ancient Susa. Shush is the administrative capital of the Shush County of Iran’s Khuzestan province. It had a population 65,00.

6. Faiyum, Egypt

Faiyum, Egypt

Faiyum is a city in Middle Egypt. Located 130 km southwest of Cairo, it is the capital of the modern Faiyum Governorate. The town occupies part of the ancient site of Crocodilopolis. Founded in around 4000 B.C., it is the oldest city in Egypt and one of the oldest cities in Africa.

Modern Faiyum consists of several large bazaars, mosques and baths, while the Lehin and Hawara pyramids are found nearby.

7. Sidon, Lebanon

Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities

Sidon is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. One of the most important – and perhaps the oldest – Phoenician cities.

It was the base from which the Phoenician’s great Mediterranean empire grew. Both Jesus and St Paul are said to have visited Sidon, as did Alexander the Great, who captured the city in 333 BC.

8. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The second-largest city in Bulgaria after the capital Sofia, Plovdiv was originally a Tracian settlement before becoming a major Roman city. It later fell into Byzantine and Ottoman hands, before becoming part of Bulgaria.

The city is a major cultural centre and boasts many ancient remains, including a Roman amphitheatre and aqueduct, and Ottoman baths.

9. Gaziantep, Turkey

Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities

Gaziantep is a city in southeast Turkey and amongst the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city is located 185 km northeast of Adana and 127 km by road north of Aleppo, Syria.

Gaziantep’s history extends as far back as the Hittites. The Ravanda citadel – restored by the Byzantines in the 6th century – is found in the city centre, while Roman mosaics have also been discovered.

10. Beirut, Lebanon

Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities

The capital and largest city of Lebanon as well as its cultural, administrative and economic center, Beirut’s history stretches back around 5,000 years.

Excavations in the city have unearthed Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman remains, while it is mentioned in letters to the pharaoh of Egypt as early as the 14th century BC. Since the end of the Lebanese civil war, it has become a lively, modern tourist attraction.

Exploring the Ancient Origins: The Top 10 Oldest Cities in the World

Throughout history, human civilization has flourished and thrived in various corners of the globe. Some settlements have withstood the test of time, witnessing the rise and fall of empires, the evolution of cultures, and the passing of centuries. Here are the top 10 oldest cities in the world, each bearing the weight of ancient tales and extraordinary legacies.

  1. Jericho, Palestine
  2. Byblos, Lebanon
  3. Damascus, Syria
  4. Varanasi, India
  5. Athens, Greece
  6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  7. Luxor, Egypt
  8. Cholula, Mexico
  9. Xi’an, China
  10. Rome, Italy

FAQs: Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities in The World

What is the oldest city in the world?

The oldest city in the world is widely believed to be Jericho, located in the West Bank of Palestine. It has archaeological evidence dating back over 11,000 years.

Is Damascus the oldest city in the world?

While Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities, it is not the oldest city in the world. Jericho, mentioned earlier, holds that distinction.

Which is the oldest city in South Asia?

The oldest city in South Asia is considered to be Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Benares, located in the northern part of India. It has a history dating back approximately 5,000 years.

Which is the lowest and oldest city in the world?

The lowest and oldest city in the world is Jericho, located in the Jordan Valley of Palestine. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 258 meters (846 feet) below sea level, making it the lowest city on Earth.