The oldest city in the world. The most ancient cities in the world

Cities are like people: they are born, live and die. But they can be thousands of years old. But, like people, not everyone achieves success. Some cities that were previously large settlements degenerate into tiny villages, others become completely deserted. But sometimes they are lucky, and for thousands of years they remain real active cities. And the most ancient cities have been inhabited not even for hundreds, but for thousands of years.

Surely you have heard about the city of Jericho, its walls and pipes that destroyed them. About the war of Joshua with this city, during which he massacred all the inhabitants, except for one family. In the Bible, this settlement is mentioned many times in general, it is not surprising that many consider this city to be exceptionally legendary.

But it really exists, and it is the oldest city in the world. It became a large settlement around the third millennium BC, that is, for more than 50,000 years people have been constantly living in it. It was a periodic stop even longer, from about the ninth millennium BC, that is, another 6000 years. Today it is the capital of one of the provinces in the Palestinian territory.

During this time, the city has seen everything: the emergence and collapse of civilizations, the emergence of new religions and the death of old ones, new inventions and breakthroughs ... If stones could talk, then Jericho would become a better history teacher. But, alas, they are silent ...

If Damascus is younger than Jericho, then not much - only 500 years. The first mention of it as a city dates back to the 2500s BC. But as a settlement, it appeared much earlier - 10-11 thousand years ago. Today it has become the capital of Syria, despite being the second largest. But this does not prevent him from being the cultural capital of the Promised Land. In addition, it is considered one of the objects of cultural heritage and is listed by UNESCO as being in danger of destruction.

Closes the top three most ancient cities in the world Bibl. Despite the fact that the city still lives and lives on the same place, it has a different name - Jbeil. However, Byblos (or Byblos) he was always called by foreigners. Through this major port they exported many goods, including papyrus. Therefore, its Greek name, like the word "book" itself, came from this particular settlement.

This settlement appeared about four thousand years ago.

Today, this Lebanese city belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it is practically a monument of history and architecture.

Susa

This Iranian city is rightfully considered one of the oldest on earth, it appeared about 7 thousand years ago, becoming a place of permanent settlement a large number of people. He remains to this day. Susa saw dozens of civilizations, more than once was the capital of states. Now it is a relatively small settlement, in which about 60-70 thousand people live, mainly Persian Jews and Shiite Arabs.

Derbent is the most ancient city in Russia. This historical monument is located in Dagestan. Its name is translated as "closed gates", which is not accidental - it has become a kind of Caspian gate (it is located on a narrow passage between the mountains of the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea). It is not surprising that an active city has grown and constantly existed on this site. By official versions, it appeared about six thousand years ago, in the Bronze Age.

saithe

Lebanon is generally lucky with ancient cities, and Saida is one of them. As historical studies show, it appeared as a city about 4000 thousand years BC. But archaeologists say that people periodically appeared on its territory long before that, already in the tenth millennium BC. In the Bible, he was called "the firstborn of Canaan", alluding to his antiquity. Historians, however, argue that it was from this city that the culture of Phoenicia grew - one of the largest civilizations of the ancient world.

Faiyum

Egyptian civilization considered one of the most ancient, but the city related to it appeared on our list just now. On the other hand, it is difficult to talk about the age of such cities, because there are no exact datings, there are only approximate data. So the foundation of the Faiyum is attributed to the same fourth millennium BC as Saidu, and it is quite difficult to say which of them is older. It is located in the Egyptian region under funny name Crocodilopolis, which appeared because of the cult of the god with a crocodile head - Petsuhos.

Bulgaria boasts more than one ancient city, but Plovdiv is one of them. It is a kind of contemporary of the already mentioned Faiyum and Saida, the fourth millennium BC turned out to be quite productive. Now it has become the second largest settlement in Bulgaria and a major cultural center. History and architecture are especially flourishing in it, which is not surprising, given the number of picturesque ruins and ancient buildings.

We hope that after reading this article, you have a better idea of ​​which city in the world appeared first. At the same time, it is worth noting that today we talked about those settlements, which from the moment of its appearance to the present day remain active. After all, a city remains a city as long as people live in it, without them it becomes ruins.

In the course of the development of civilization, people united their scattered dwellings. This is how cities were born. History erected great settlements and just as ruthlessly wiped them off the face of the Earth. Only a few cities have been able to go through the centuries, having endured all the blows of fate. The walls stood in the sun and rain, they saw how the ages came and went.

These cities became silent witnesses of how our civilization was reborn and fell into decay. Today, not all the great cities of the past continue to give shelter to people, many simply lie in ruins or have completely disappeared from the face of the Earth.

The British newspaper "The Guardian" has chosen the 15 most ancient cities in the world, each of which has its own unique architecture and unusual history. These places have such an ancient history that only approximate dates can be given, historians are arguing around them. So where does a person live continuously the longest?

Jericho, Palestinian Territories. This settlement appeared here 11 thousand years ago. This is the oldest residential city in the world, which was repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. Jericho is also known in ancient texts as the "city of palm trees". Archaeologists have found here the remains of 20 successive settlements, which made it possible to determine the venerable age of the city. The city is located near the Jordan River, on the western bank. Even today, about 20 thousand people live here. And the ruins of ancient Jericho are located west of the center of the modern city. Archaeologists have been able to find here the remains of a large tower from the pre-ceramic Neolithic period (8400-7300 BC). Jericho keeps burials of the Chalcolithic period, city walls from the Bronze Age. Perhaps it was they who fell from the loud trumpets of the Israelites, giving rise to the phrase "Jericho trumpets." In the city you can find the ruins of the winter palace-residence of King Herod the Great with swimming pools, baths, lavishly decorated halls. The mosaic on the floor of the synagogue dating back to the 5th-6th centuries has also been preserved here. And at the foot of the Tel-as-Sultan hill is the source of the prophet Elisha. Historians believe that the hills adjacent to Jericho hide many archaeological treasures comparable to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

Byblos, Lebanon. The settlement in this place is already about 7 thousand years old. The city of Gebal, mentioned in the Bible, was founded by the Phoenicians. His other name, Byblos (Byblos), he received from the Greeks. The fact is that the city supplied them with papyrus, which was called “byblos” in Greek. The city has been known since the 4th millennium BC. Byblos became famous for its temples of Baal, the cult of the god Adonis was born here. It was from here that it spread to the territory of Greece. The ancient Egyptians wrote that it was in this city that Isis found the body of Osiris in a wooden box. The main tourist attractions of the city are the ancient Phoenician temples, the temple of St. John the Baptist, built by the Crusaders in the XII century, the city castle and the remains of the city wall. Now here, 32 kilometers from Beirut, is the Arab city of Jbeil.

Aleppo, Syria. Archaeologists believe that people settled here in 4300 BC. Today this city is the most populated in Syria, the number of inhabitants in it is approaching 4 million. Previously, it was known under the names Halpe or Khalibon. For many centuries, Aleppo was the third largest city in the Ottoman Empire, second only to Constantinople and Cairo. The origin of the city's name is not entirely clear. Presumably "haleb" means copper or iron. The fact is that in ancient times there was a large center for their production. In Aramaic, "halaba" means "white", which is associated with the color of the soil in this area and the abundance of marble rocks. And Aleppo got its current name from the Italians, who visited here with crusades. Ancient Aleppo is evidenced by Hittite inscriptions, Mari inscriptions in the Euphrates, in central Anatolia and in the city of Ebla. These ancient texts speak of the city as an important military and commercial center. For the Hittites, Aleppo was of particular importance, as it was the center of worship for the weather god. IN economic terms the city has always been an important place. Here passed the Great silk road. Aleppo has always been a tidbit for invaders - it belonged to the Greeks, Persians, Assyrians, Romans, Arabs, Turks and even the Mongols. It was here that the great Tamerlane ordered the erection of a tower of 20,000 skulls. With the opening of the Suez Canal, Aleppo's role as a trading center has become smaller. Currently, this city is experiencing a revival, it is one of the most beautiful places in the Middle East.

Damascus, Syria. Many believe. That Damascus is worthy of the title of the oldest city in the world. Although there is an opinion that people lived here 12 thousand years ago, another date of settlement looks more truthful - 4300 BC. The medieval Arab historian Ibn Asakir in XII claimed that after Flood The Damascus Wall was the first wall erected. He attributed the birth of the city to the 4th millennium BC. The first historical evidence of Damascus dates back to the 15th century BC. Then the city was under the rule of Egypt and its pharaohs. Later, Damascus was part of Assyria, the Neo-Babylonian kingdom, Persia, the empire of Alexander the Great, and after his death, it was part of the Hellenistic kingdom of the Seleucids. The heyday of the city fell on the era of the Arameans. They created a whole network of water channels in the city, which today are the basis of the modern water supply networks of Damascus. The urban agglomeration today has 2.5 million people. In 2008, Damascus was recognized as the cultural capital of the Arab world.

Susa, Iran. The settlement in this place is already 6200 years old. And the first traces of a man in Susa date back to 7000 BC. The city is located on the territory of the modern province of Khuzestan, in Iran. Susa entered the history as the capital of the ancient state of Elam. The Sumerians wrote about the city in their early documents. Thus, the works “Enmerkar and the Ruler of Aratta” say that Susa was dedicated to the deity Inanna, the patroness of Uruk. There are numerous references to the ancient city in the Old Testament, especially often its name is found in the Scriptures. The prophets Daniel and Nehemiah lived here during the Babylonian captivity in the 6th century BC, in the city Esther became a queen and saved from persecution by a Jew. The state of the Elamites ceased to exist with the victories of Ashurbanipal, Susa itself was plundered, which happened far from the first time. The son of Cyrus the Great made Susa the capital of the Persian kingdom. However, this state also ceased to exist, thanks to Alexander the Great. The city has lost its former significance. Muslims and Mongols later walked along Susa with destruction, as a result, life in it barely flickered. Today the city is called Shusha, about 65 thousand people live in it.

Faiyum, Egypt. This city has a history of 6 millennia. It is located southwest of Cairo, in the oasis of the same name, occupying part of Crocodilopolis. In this ancient place, the Egyptians worshiped the sacred Sebek, the crocodile god. The pharaohs of the 12th dynasty liked to visit Faiyum, then the city was called Shedit. This fact follows from the remains of funerary pyramids and temples found by Flinders Petrie. Faiyum was home to the famous Labyrinth described by Herodotus. Quite a lot of archaeological finds have been found in this area. But world fame went to the Fayum drawings. They were made using the technique of enacaustics and were funerary portraits from the time of Roman Egypt. Currently, the population of the city of El Faiyum is more than 300 thousand people.

Sidon, Lebanon. People founded their first settlement here in 4000 BC. Sidon is located 25 kilometers south of Beirut on the Mediterranean coast. This city was one of the most significant and oldest Phoenician cities. It was he who was the heart of that empire. In the X-IX centuries BC. Sidon was the largest shopping center of that world. In the Bible, he was called "the firstborn of Canaan", the brother of the Amorite and the Hittite. It is believed that both Jesus and the apostle Paul visited Sidon. And in 333 BC. The city was captured by Alexander the Great. Today the city is called Saida and is inhabited by Shiite and Sunni Muslims. It is the third largest city in Lebanon with a population of 200,000 people.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This city also arose in 4000 BC. Today it is the second largest in Bulgaria and one of the oldest in Europe. Even Athens, Rome, Carthage and Constantinople are younger than Plovdiv. The Roman historian Ammian Marcellinus said that the Thracians gave the first name to this settlement - Evmolpiada. In 342 BC. the city was conquered by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the legendary conqueror. In honor of himself, the king named the settlement Philippopolis, while the Thracians pronounced this word as Pulpudeva. Since the 6th century, Slavic tribes began to control the city. In 815, he became part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom under the name Pyldin. For the next few centuries, these lands changed hands from the Bulgarians to the Byzantines, until the Ottoman Turks captured it for a long time. Crusaders came to Plovdiv four times and plundered the city. Nowadays the city is an important cultural center. There are many ruins here, testifying to a rich history. The Roman aqueduct and amphitheater, as well as the Ottoman baths, stand out here. About 370 thousand people now live in Plovdiv.

Gaziantep, Türkiye. This settlement appeared around 3650 BC. It is located in the south of Turkey, near the Syrian border. Gaziantep takes its history from the time of the Hittites. Until February 1921, the city was called Antep, and the Turkish parliament gave the prefix Gazi to the inhabitants for their merits during the battles for the country's independence. Today, more than 800 thousand people live here. Gaziantep is one of the most important ancient centers in the southeast of Anatolia. This city lies between mediterranean sea and Mesopotamia. Here the roads between the south, north, west and east intersected, and the Great Silk Road passed. Until now, in Gaziantep you can find historical relics from the times of the Assyrians, the Hittites, the era of Alexander the Great. With the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the city also experienced prosperity.

Beirut, Lebanon. In Beirut, people began to live 3 thousand years before the birth of Christ. Today this city is the capital of Lebanon, the economic, cultural and administrative center of the country. And the Phoenicians laid Lebanon, choosing rocky land in the middle of the Mediterranean coast modern territory Lebanon. It is believed that the name of the city comes from the word "birot", meaning "well". For a long time, Beirut remained in the background in the region, behind more significant neighbors - Tire and Sidon. It was not until the era of the Roman Empire that the city became influential. There was a famous legal school here, which developed the basic postulates of the Code of Justinian. Over time, this document will become the basis of the European system of law. In 635, the Arabs occupied Beirut, incorporating the city into the Arab Caliphate. In 1100, the Crusaders captured the city, and in 1516, the Turks. Until 1918, Beirut was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the last century, the city glorious history became an important cultural, financial and intellectual center in the Eastern Mediterranean. And since 1941, Beirut has become the capital of a new independent state- Lebanese Republic.

Jerusalem, Israel/Palestinian Territories. This great city without a doubt was founded in 2800 BC. Jerusalem was able to become both the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the third holy city of Islam. The city has a large number of important religious sites, including the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher al-Aqsa. It is not surprising that Jerusalem was constantly trying to conquer. As a result, the history of the city has 23 sieges, 52 attacks. It was captured 44 times and destroyed 2 times. The ancient city lies on the watershed between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean, in the spurs of the Judean Mountains at an altitude of 650-840 meters above sea level. The first settlements in this area date back to the 4th millennium BC. IN Old Testament Jerusalem is spoken of as the capital of the Jebusites. This population lived in Judea even before the Jews. It was they who founded the city, populating it initially. There is also a mention of Jerusalem on Egyptian figurines of the 20th-19th centuries BC. There, among the curses against hostile cities, Rushalimum was also mentioned. In the XI century BC. Jerusalem was occupied by the Jews, who proclaimed it the capital of the kingdom of Israel, and from the 10th century BC. - Jewish. After 400 years, the city was captured by Babylon, then it was ruled by the Persian Empire. Jerusalem changed owners many times - they were Romans, Arabs, Egyptians, Crusaders. From 1517 to 1917 the city was part of the Ottoman Empire, after which it came under the jurisdiction of Great Britain. Now Jerusalem with a population of 800 thousand people is the capital of Israel.

Tire, Lebanon. This city was founded in 2750 BC. Tire was a famous Phoenician city, a major trading center. The date of its foundation was named by Herodotus himself. And there was a settlement on the territory of modern Lebanon. In 332 B.C. Tire was taken by the troops of Alexander the Great, this required a seven-month siege. From 64 BC Tire became a Roman province. It is believed that the apostle Paul lived here for some time. In the Middle Ages, Tire was known as one of the most impregnable fortresses in the Middle East. It was in this city that Frederick Barbarossa, King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, was buried in 1190. Now, on the site of a great ancient settlement, there is a small town of Sur. It no longer has any special significance; trade began to be conducted through Beirut.

Erbil, Iraq. This settlement is already 4300 years old. It is located north of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Erbil is the capital of the Iraqi unrecognized state of Kurdistan. This city throughout its history belonged to different peoples - Assyrians, Persians, Sassanids, Arabs and Turks. Archaeological studies have confirmed that people have lived in this area without a break for more than 6 thousand years. The most eloquent evidence of this is the hill of the Citadel. It is the remains of former settlements. There was a wall around it, which was created in pre-Islamic times. When Erbil was under the rule of the Persians, Greek sources called it Hawler or Arbela. The Royal Road passed through it, which went from the very center of the Persian center to the coast Aegean Sea. Erbil was also a transit point on the Great Silk Road. Until now, the ancient city citadel, 26 meters high, is visible from afar.

Kirkuk, Iraq. This city appeared in 2200 BC. It is located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad. Kirkuk is located on the site of the ancient Hurrian and Assyrian capital of Arrapha. The city had an important strategic position, so three empires fought for it at once - Babylon, Assyria and Media. It was they who shared control over Kirkuk for a long time. Even today, there are still ruins that are 4,000 years old. The modern city, thanks to its proximity to the richest field, has become the oil capital of Iraq. About a million people live here today.

Balkh, Afghanistan. This ancient city appeared around the 15th century BC. Balkh became the first large settlement that the Indo-Aryans created during their transition from the Amu Darya. This city became a large and traditional center of Zoroastrianism, it is believed that it was here that Zarathustra was born. In late antiquity, Balkh became an important center for the Hinayana. Historians said that in the 7th century there were more than a hundred Buddhist monasteries in the city, only 30 thousand monks lived in them alone. by the most large temple was Navbahar, its name in Sanskrit means "new monastery". There was a huge Buddha statue there. In 645, the city was first captured by the Arabs. However, after the robbery, they left Balkh. In 715, the Arabs returned here, having already settled in the city for a long time. The further history of Balkh knew the arrival of the Mongols and Timur, nevertheless, even Marco Polo, describing the city, called it "great and worthy." In the XVI-XIX centuries, the Persians, the Bukhara Khanate and the Afghans fought for Balkh. Bloody wars ended only with the transfer of the city under the authority of the Afghan Emir in 1850. Today this place is considered the center of the cotton industry, leather is well dressed here, getting "Persian sheepskin". And 77 thousand people live in the city.

This material will acquaint you not with the very first cities that appeared on our planet, but with such cities that, from the moment of their foundation, were constantly inhabited. Although, disputes about the most-most among them have been going on for more than one year.

1. Most often, the most ancient city, safely existing to this day, is considered Palestinian town of Jericho, which appeared in the copper age (9000 BC).

2. In second place is The capital of Syria is Damascus. It appeared in the same era as Jericho, but about a millennium later.

3. Not Big city OK bible located in the suburbs Lebanese capital, Beirut, has a history that goes back to the Neolithic (7000 BC).

4. Iranian city of Susa (Shush) has a controversial date of foundation, which ranges from 5000-7000 BC.

5. Another controversial city is Syrian Aleppo. The problem is that there is no old and new city. On the site of the first settlements, the current Aleppo is located, which greatly complicates the conduct of archaeological excavations.

6. Sidon - Lebanese town, first settled 5500 BC

7. El Fayoum - an oasis city in the middle of the Libyan desert was founded around 4000 BC.

8. Oddly enough, but the oldest in Europe, still existing city with a permanent population throughout history, is Bulgarian Plovdiv (city on seven hills), on the modern territory of which the first settlements also appeared 4000 BC.

9. Turkish Gaziantep, according to one version, it appeared 3650 BC. But the date is also disputed downward.

10. Two Greek cities, Argos and Athens, appeared at about the same time. Nevertheless, disputes over the first permanent settlements are ongoing. The exact facts of the presence of urban settlements date back to 5000 BC. However, there is information about seven millennia BC. In short, the controversy continues.

Argos.
center]

Many ancient cities claim the right to be called the first city of the 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 "the oldest city" refers to Jericho - an oasis near the place where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. The city of Jericho, widely known from the Bible, is located here - the very 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, they crossed the Jordan and stood at the walls of this city. The townspeople, who took refuge behind the walls of the city, were convinced that the city was impregnable. But the Israelis used an extraordinary military stratagem. They circled the city walls in a silent crowd six times, and on the seventh they shouted in unison and blew their trumpets, so loudly that the formidable walls collapsed. Hence the expression "Jericho Trumpet".

Jericho is fed by water from the powerful spring of Ain es-Sultan ( "Source of the Sultan"), to which the city owes its origin. The Arabs call the name of this source a hill north of modern Jericho - Tell es-Sultan ( "Sultan Mountain"). Already at the end of the 19th century, it attracted the attention of archaeologists and is still considered one of the most important sites of archaeological finds of objects from the early historical period.

In 1907 and 1908, a group of German and Austrian researchers, led by professors Ernst Sellin and Karl Watzinger, began excavations for the first time at Mount Sultana. They came across two parallel fortified walls built of sun-dried bricks. The outer wall had a thickness of 2 m and a height of 8-10 m, and the thickness of the inner wall reached 3.5 m.

Archaeologists have determined that these walls were built between 1400 and 1200 BC. It is understandable that they were quickly identified with the walls that the Bible says were torn down by the mighty trumpets of the Israelite tribes. However, during the excavations, archaeologists came across the remains of construction debris, which was 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, under the guidance of Professor John Garstang, were able to continue their research. New excavations began in 1929 and continued for about ten years.

In 1935-1936, Garstang came across the lowest layers of the Stone Age settlements.

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

The work of the Garstang expedition was interrupted due to the difficult political situation. And only after the end of World War II did English archaeologists return to Jericho again. This time the expedition was led by Dr. Kathleen M. Canyon, whose activities are associated with all further discoveries in this ancient city of the world. 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. The researchers made their way through 40 (!) Cultural layers and found structures 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 livelihood by hunting and gathering plants and fruits. The results of the excavations showed that about 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 became an archeological sensation in the 1950s. Systematic excavations have unearthed a number of successive layers, united in two complexes - pre-ceramic Neolithic A (VIII millennium BC) and pre-ceramic Neolithic B (VII millennium BC).

Today, Jericho A is considered the first urban-type settlement discovered in the Old World. Here are found the earliest known to science buildings of a permanent type, burial places and sanctuaries built of earth or small rounded unbaked bricks.

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

Under the protection of a stone wall 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 "pig's back"). In order to more accurately determine the age of these structures, the latest scientific methods, for example radiocarbon (radiocarbon) method.

Atomic physicists in the study of isotopes found that it is possible to determine the age of objects by the ratio of radioactive and stable isotopes of carbon. By sounding, it was found that the most ancient walls of this city belong to the VIII millennium, that is, their age is about 10 thousand years. The sanctuary discovered as a result of excavations had an even more ancient age - 9551 BC.

There is no doubt that Jericho A, with its sedentary population and developed construction business, was one of the first early agricultural settlements on Earth. Based on many years of research conducted here, historians have received a completely new picture of the development and technical capabilities that mankind 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 2,000 people is associated with the transition of the local population from a simple gathering of edible cereals to agriculture - growing wheat and barley. At the same time, the researchers found that this revolutionary step was not taken 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 of IX and VIII millennia BC, life was not interrupted here.

At first, the town was not fortified, but with the advent of strong neighbors, fortress walls were needed to protect against attacks. The appearance of fortifications speaks not only of the confrontation between different tribes, but also of the accumulation of certain material values ​​by the inhabitants of Jericho, which attracted the greedy eyes of neighbors. What were these values? Archaeologists have answered this question as well. Probably, the main source of income for the townspeople was barter: a 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 in the rock. A stone wall 1.64 m thick rose behind the ditch, preserved at a height of 3.94 m. Its original height probably reached 5 m , and above there was a laying of raw bricks.

During the excavations, a large round stone tower with a diameter of 7 m was discovered, preserved to a height of 8.15 m, with an internal staircase carefully built from solid stone slabs a meter wide. The tower housed a storehouse for grain and clayed cisterns to collect rainwater.

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

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

The construction of a powerful defensive system required an enormous expenditure 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 world's first city at 2,000, and this figure may be an underestimate.

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, undersized people with elongated skulls (dolichocephals), who belonged to the so-called Euro-African race, lived here 10 thousand years ago. They built oval dwellings from lumps of clay, the floors of which were deepened below ground level. The house was entered through a doorway with wooden jambs. Several steps led down. Most of the 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 plastered 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 rpyboy food, consisting of cereals and legumes, pounded in stone mortars, these people completely wore out their teeth.

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

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

It is curious that in the oldest graves of Jericho (6500 BC), archaeologists mostly find skeletons without a head. Apparently, the skulls were separated from the corpses and buried separately. The cult cutting off of the head is known in many parts of the world and has been encountered up to our time. Here in Jericho, scholars have encountered what appears to be one of the earliest manifestations of this cult.

During this "pre-pottery" period, the inhabitants of Jericho did not use earthenware - they were replaced by stone vessels, carved mainly from limestone. Probably, the townspeople also used all kinds of wickerwork and leather receptacles like wineskins.

Not knowing how to sculpt earthenware, the ancient inhabitants of Jericho at the same time sculpted animal figures and other images from clay. In residential buildings and tombs of Jericho, many clay figurines of animals, as well as stucco images of the phallus, were found. The cult of the male principle 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 front hall with six wooden pillars. Probably, it was a sanctuary - a primitive predecessor of the future temple. Inside this room and in the immediate vicinity of it, 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 figures of people. They are made from local limestone clay called hawara with a reed frame. These figurines are of normal proportions, but flat frontal. Nowhere, except for Jericho, have archaeologists encountered such figurines before.

In one of the prehistoric layers of Jericho, life-size group sculptures of men, women and children were also found. For their manufacture, clay similar to cement was used, which was smeared on a reed frame. These figures were still very primitive and planar: after all, for many centuries plastic art was preceded by rock paintings or images on the walls of caves. The found figures show what great 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 appearance of Jericho - the first urban center - testifies to the emergence of high forms public organization Even the invasion of more backward tribes from the north in the 5th millennium BC. could not interrupt this process, which eventually led to the creation of highly developed ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Middle East.

Hamukar

In Syria, the ruins of a city were discovered, which, according to scientists, is at least 6,000 years old. The find actually changed the traditional ideas about the appearance of cities and civilization on Earth in general. It forces us to view the spread of civilization in a new light, starting from an earlier time. Prior to this, the discovery of the city, dating back to 4000 BC, was found only in ancient Sumer - between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on the territory of modern Iraq, the last, the 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 XV century BC), which has not yet been discovered. But signs of settlement in this area were not found at that time - “ Washukan 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, gave a lot of advantages and created excellent prerequisites for the development of the city.

The researchers really found signs indicating its existence as early as the middle of the 4th millennium BC.

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

This time the archaeologists were determined - in the most direct 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 spade hit the ground in November 1999. The expedition had to settle in, settle down, prepare the excavation area, hire local residents for hard work...

It all started with the compilation detailed map terrain. And only then, with its 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 give a fairly accurate idea of ​​the size and shape of the settlement. And luck really smiled at the archaeologists - the ancient cities hidden in the earth "fell down" as if from a cornucopia.

The first of the found settlements belonged to about 3209. BC. and covered an area of ​​about 13 hectares. Gradually it grew, its territory increased to 102 hectares, and subsequently the settlement became one of the largest cities that time. Then, based on the found items, other, most interesting places for excavations were identified. In the eastern part of the settlement, archaeologists discovered a building in which pots were fired. And the main result of the survey of the area was the discovery of a large settlement south of the hill. His 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 that, which is hard to believe. At that time, in the era of the birth of the first urban settlements, such a large city was a real metropolis of antiquity.

Satellites have helped scientists a lot. The photographs taken from them prompted the researchers to another thought, when, 100 m from the hill, on its northern and eastern sides, they distinguished a dark meandering line, similar to a city wall, while only a small slope was visible on the ground. Further examination showed that the wall could be located closer to the hill, and the slope was preserved from the 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 consider the development of the settlement in various eras, since each step was lower than the next by 4-5 m. So: the lowest layer that scientists reached showed the city of 6000 years ago!

On the next level, the walls of several houses made of clay blocks were found, as well as a huge, possibly urban, wall 4 meters high and 4 meters thick. The remains of ceramics under it date back to the middle of the 4th millennium BC. Next comes the level dating back to 3200 BC. Ceramics from here refers 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 more "young" buildings built in the III millennium BC. There are already baked brick houses and wells here. Directly above one of the houses a later building was built - the middle of the 1st millennium, and then there is a modern cemetery.

Another excavation area abounded in potsherds. It was divided into sections of five square meters And carefully "shoveled" all the land. Archaeologists have discovered here houses with perfectly preserved clay walls. And inside in a huge amount were things of bygone days - 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 bumps and pits.

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

The pottery discovered here amazed scientists with its diversity: large pots for cooking ordinary food, small vessels, as well as small elegant vessels, the walls of which are equal to the thickness of the shell of an ostrich egg. Figurines with big eyes, possibly some deities from the middle of the 4th millennium BC.

But still, 15 seals in the form of carefully traced animals tell the most fully about the society of that era. All of them were found in the same pit, presumably a grave. A huge number of beads made of bone, faience, stone and shells were also found here, and some of them were so small size, which can be assumed: they were not used as necklaces, but were woven or sewn into clothes.

The seals are carved from stone in the form 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 the leopard in beauty, - in the form of a horned beast, which, unfortunately, the horns broke off. The large seals are much more varied, but far fewer in number than the small ones, the main types of which are the lion, goat, bear, dog, hare, fish, and birds. The larger and more elaborate seals must have belonged to people of great power or wealth, while the smaller ones may have been used by others to signify private property.

In a small pit two meters deep in the northeastern part of the excavation, just below the surface, the researchers found a wall dating from the 7th century BC. AD, and even a meter below - the corner of the building, reinforced with a support with two niches. The prop was placed next to the door that leads to the east. The doorframe, support, niches and the south wall are covered with lime. Typically, such props with niches were installed not at private, but at temple buildings. Fragments of pottery found near the temple indicate the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, that is, the Akkadian period, when the rulers of Akkad, a state in southern Mesopotamia, began to expand into the territory of present-day Syria. Since this is a critical period in the history of Mesopotamia, the place where so many eras 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 valley of the Tigris and Euphrates, but also in other areas at the same time. Some researchers even believe that civilization originally originated in Syria. The discovery actually changed the traditional ideas about the emergence of cities and civilization in general, forcing us to consider its birth and spread at an earlier time.

If earlier it was believed that civilization originated in the Uruk period (okayo 4000 BC), now there is evidence of its existence as early as the Ubaid period (about 4500 BC). This means that the development of the first states began before the appearance of writing and other phenomena that are considered criteria for the emergence of civilization. Between different peoples, vital ties began to form, people exchanged experience. Civilization began to walk the planet with leaps and bounds!

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

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

Not all cities were lucky enough to keep original appearance. In difficult times of wars and conquests, many cities were destroyed and then rebuilt, so only a few buildings managed to "survive" to our times. Still, there are majestic cities that can rightfully bear the proud title of "the most Old city peace."

Jericho (Palestine)

The mention of the first settlements on the site of modern Jericho dates back to 9000 BC. Three millennia later, the city began to actively rebuild and already at the turn of the 3rd and 2nd millennium reached the peak of its development. Several times it was destroyed, one of which was mentioned in the Bible.

It was a majestic city, in which houses were built of brick and stone. Archaeologists have discovered here the ruins of an ancient synagogue dating back to the 1st century BC, magnificent winter palaces with baths, pools and richly decorated halls. Not far from Jericho rises Mount Karantal, on which, according to legend, Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days. Now in that place there is a majestic monastery of Temptation carved into the rocks.

Damascus (Syria)

Another most ancient city is Damascus, the first mention of which appeared in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. Due to the fact that in ancient times Damascus was under the rule of the Egyptians, Israelis, Assyrians, Persians and even, this ancient city absorbed the culture of these peoples.

He became famous for his Damascus steel, which was popular in medieval Europe. Today here you can see the ruins of the ancient gates of the fortress, protecting the city from raids, catholic churches, temples, mosques, old houses, which are the most important monuments of Damascus culture and history.

Susa (Iran)

The first mention of the ancient city of Susa (modern Shush) dates back to the 7th-4th millennium BC. It was the ancient Sumerian capital of the state of Elam. In 668 B.C. The Babylonians burned Susa, and after 10 years the state of Elam ceased to exist. The Persians rebuilt the city, rebuilding and expanding the stately palaces, and making Susa their capital.

In our era, the city was plundered and destroyed by Muslims and Mongols, so few monuments of that period have come down to us. Only the French archaeological expedition, which excavated the ancient city, left the most significant attraction - the French fortress, built in the 19th century to protect the members of the expedition and protect the finds.

Derbent (Dagestan)

Russia also has the oldest city, and it was founded in 438 AD, although the first mention of settlements dates back to the end of the 4th millennium BC. WITH different languages its name is translated as "closed gate", "stone", "wall". And this is no coincidence - due to the frequent raids of nomads, Derbent has become a reliable fortress. Since the Great Silk Road passed through the city, it was of great commercial importance, and at one time many nations wanted to conquer it. It was under the control of the Persians, Arabs, Iranians, and only in 1813 began to belong to Russia.

The main attractions of Derbent are its fortress with many gates, the Juma mosque, the oldest in Russia, the Naryn-Kala fortress and the Derbent tunnel, which is 318 meters long.

Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

The oldest city in Bulgaria was known as early as the 6th millennium BC. In 72 B.C. came under Roman rule and was rapidly developed. The influence of Rome has brought to our times the Roman buildings of that time - the amphitheater, the baths and the hippodrome. In the VI century, they began to belong to the Bulgarians (Slavic tribe), then Byzantium, and in 1364 it was captured by the Ottoman Empire.

Plovdiv is now the second largest city in Bulgaria. The rich history of the city has left many wonderful sights that characterize a particular culture. Here you can see ancient Roman buildings, mosques, and a Thracian fortress.

Jerusalem (Israel)

This city has a rich history associated with conquests and biblical legends. Founded in the 4th millennium BC Jerusalem has a sacred meaning for millions of people. Many biblical events are associated with it, including the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His story is truly amazing and extensive. Here are the shrines of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and thousands of pilgrims come to Jerusalem every year to remember their saints and pray.

The most famous sights of Jerusalem are the Wailing Wall, the mosque on the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Athens, Greece)

The first mention of the ancient capital of Greece dates back to the 15th century BC. It reached its peak of development in 500-300 BC. and rightly bears the name of the cradle of Greek culture. It became the birthplace of many famous ancient Greek historians, geographers, poets and philosophers. There are still preserved monuments of ancient history, such as the Acropolis, the Athenian Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, etc.

This is only an incomplete list of the most ancient cities. There are other cities in the world that have such old story that their origin and foundation can only be guessed from the few documents that have come down to us. They are priceless because they saw the change of eras and civilizations, and even despite the ruins, their greatness will never sink into oblivion.