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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Argos, Greece
- Argos was one of the most important cities in ancient Greece. The first settlements are believed to date back to around 3000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Argos, Greece
- Archaeological structures from different civilizations have been uncovered in the area. These include those belonging to the Mycenaeans, Greeks, and Romans.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Sidon, Lebanon
- Its location on the Mediterranean Sea made it a strategic city for the Phoenicians, though it was coveted and inhabited by several empires throughout the years, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Sidon, Lebanon
- It's believed that Sidon has been continuously inhabited since about 4000 BCE. Today, it's the third-largest city in Lebanon.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Also known as Philippopolis to the Greeks and Romans, the city was originally a Thracian settlement dating back to around 4000 BCE. Plovdiv was later under Ottoman rule for a period of time.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Today, Plovdiv is the second-largest city in the country, and remains a historical and beautiful destination on the banks of the Maritsa river.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Jerusalem
- Jerusalem is a city like no other. The holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam dates back to sometime between 4500 and 3400 BCE.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Jerusalem
- Jerusalem's Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to over 200 historic monuments. For centuries, the city has had a troubled history of conflict and dispute. Today, both Palestinians and Israelis claim it as their capital.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Varanasi, India
- Famous writer Mark Twain once wrote that the city "is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together." It turns out he wasn't completely wrong, but he wasn't completely right either.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Varanasi, India
- This city by the Ganges not only is India's oldest, but it's also one of the most important cities for Hindus. Funeral rites (cremations) are famously performed in the city, which dates back to around 1000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Shush, Iran
- The ancient city of Susa, currently known as Shush, is actually mentioned in the Book of Esther in the Bible as "Shushan."
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Shush, Iran
- The UNESCO World Heritage Site has been continuously inhabited since around 5000 to 4000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Byblos, Lebanon
- It's believed that Byblos has been continuous inhabited since about 5000 BCE. Though there is evidence of a Phoenician settlement dating back to 7000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Byblos, Lebanon
- The city by the Mediterranean Sea has been inhabited by different civilizations as well as having been under the rule of several empires, including the Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and the Ottoman Empire.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Athens, Greece
- Known as the the birthplace of Western civilization, home of philosophy and the Olympics, Athens is the oldest European capital, and has been continuously inhabited since about 5000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Athens, Greece
- The ancient citadel, known as the Acropolis of Athens, is home to the city's most famous monuments, including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Faiyum, Egypt
- The area where Faiyum currently stands was home to several settlements over millennia, including the city of Shedet, which was known by the Greeks as Crocodilopolis.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Faiyum, Egypt
- The name derived from the fact that the inhabitants of the city worshiped a crocodile named Petsuchos that lived in the river. They believed the animal to be an embodiment of the deity Sobek. Records date the first settlements to 5000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Aleppo, Syria
- Strategically located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, Aleppo has always been an important city. It's believed that it has been continuously inhabited since around 6000 to 5000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Aleppo, Syria
- Sadly, this magnificent city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been devastated by war over the last few years. Many of its historical monuments have been destroyed or damaged as a result.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
- Formerly known as Arbela, Erbil (which is also known as Hawler) has been continuously inhabited since about 6000 BCE. The fortified settlement known as Erbil Citadel is the city's most iconic attraction.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
- Today, the city is a mix of ancient and modern, with a buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere, and it's famous for its market, restaurants, shops, and nightlife.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Ray, Iran
- The capital of Ray County is part of the Greater Tehran metropolitan area. It's believed that this city has been continuously inhabited since about 6000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Ray, Iran
- The city is home to numerous historical sites, including the Cheshmeh-Ali, which is an ancient recreational area featuring a water spring believed to date back to around 5000 BCE.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Damascus, Syria
- Damascus is one of the world' most ancient cities, and indeed the oldest capital in the world. It's estimated that it has been continuously inhabited since around 10,000 to 8000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Damascus, Syria
- Damascus has been a cultural hub in the Arab world for millennia. It's considered the fourth holiest city in Islam, and is indeed one of the most beautiful in the world.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Luxor, Egypt
- Located on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, Luxor is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The ancient Pharaonic city of Thebes has been inhabited ever since about 3200 BCE.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Luxor, Egypt
- The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to numerous ancient settings, including the Karnak Temple Complex, the Valley of the Kings, and the Valley of the Queens.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Jericho, West Bank
- The fortifications of Jericho date back to between 9000 and 8000 BCE, but the city in the Jordan Valley has been continuously inhabited since around between 11,000 and 9300 BCE.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Jericho, West Bank
- Jericho is located below sea level, making it the lowest continuously inhabited city on the planet. Sources: (U.S. News & World Report) (Treehugger) (TheTravel) (The Guardian) See also: Lost cities found–unearthing the civilizations of old
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Argos, Greece
- Argos was one of the most important cities in ancient Greece. The first settlements are believed to date back to around 3000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Argos, Greece
- Archaeological structures from different civilizations have been uncovered in the area. These include those belonging to the Mycenaeans, Greeks, and Romans.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Sidon, Lebanon
- Its location on the Mediterranean Sea made it a strategic city for the Phoenicians, though it was coveted and inhabited by several empires throughout the years, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Sidon, Lebanon
- It's believed that Sidon has been continuously inhabited since about 4000 BCE. Today, it's the third-largest city in Lebanon.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Also known as Philippopolis to the Greeks and Romans, the city was originally a Thracian settlement dating back to around 4000 BCE. Plovdiv was later under Ottoman rule for a period of time.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Today, Plovdiv is the second-largest city in the country, and remains a historical and beautiful destination on the banks of the Maritsa river.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Jerusalem
- Jerusalem is a city like no other. The holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam dates back to sometime between 4500 and 3400 BCE.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Jerusalem
- Jerusalem's Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to over 200 historic monuments. For centuries, the city has had a troubled history of conflict and dispute. Today, both Palestinians and Israelis claim it as their capital.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Varanasi, India
- Famous writer Mark Twain once wrote that the city "is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together." It turns out he wasn't completely wrong, but he wasn't completely right either.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Varanasi, India
- This city by the Ganges not only is India's oldest, but it's also one of the most important cities for Hindus. Funeral rites (cremations) are famously performed in the city, which dates back to around 1000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Shush, Iran
- The ancient city of Susa, currently known as Shush, is actually mentioned in the Book of Esther in the Bible as "Shushan."
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Shush, Iran
- The UNESCO World Heritage Site has been continuously inhabited since around 5000 to 4000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Byblos, Lebanon
- It's believed that Byblos has been continuous inhabited since about 5000 BCE. Though there is evidence of a Phoenician settlement dating back to 7000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Byblos, Lebanon
- The city by the Mediterranean Sea has been inhabited by different civilizations as well as having been under the rule of several empires, including the Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and the Ottoman Empire.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Athens, Greece
- Known as the the birthplace of Western civilization, home of philosophy and the Olympics, Athens is the oldest European capital, and has been continuously inhabited since about 5000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Athens, Greece
- The ancient citadel, known as the Acropolis of Athens, is home to the city's most famous monuments, including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Faiyum, Egypt
- The area where Faiyum currently stands was home to several settlements over millennia, including the city of Shedet, which was known by the Greeks as Crocodilopolis.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Faiyum, Egypt
- The name derived from the fact that the inhabitants of the city worshiped a crocodile named Petsuchos that lived in the river. They believed the animal to be an embodiment of the deity Sobek. Records date the first settlements to 5000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Aleppo, Syria
- Strategically located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, Aleppo has always been an important city. It's believed that it has been continuously inhabited since around 6000 to 5000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Aleppo, Syria
- Sadly, this magnificent city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been devastated by war over the last few years. Many of its historical monuments have been destroyed or damaged as a result.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
- Formerly known as Arbela, Erbil (which is also known as Hawler) has been continuously inhabited since about 6000 BCE. The fortified settlement known as Erbil Citadel is the city's most iconic attraction.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
- Today, the city is a mix of ancient and modern, with a buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere, and it's famous for its market, restaurants, shops, and nightlife.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Ray, Iran
- The capital of Ray County is part of the Greater Tehran metropolitan area. It's believed that this city has been continuously inhabited since about 6000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Ray, Iran
- The city is home to numerous historical sites, including the Cheshmeh-Ali, which is an ancient recreational area featuring a water spring believed to date back to around 5000 BCE.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Damascus, Syria
- Damascus is one of the world' most ancient cities, and indeed the oldest capital in the world. It's estimated that it has been continuously inhabited since around 10,000 to 8000 BCE.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Damascus, Syria
- Damascus has been a cultural hub in the Arab world for millennia. It's considered the fourth holiest city in Islam, and is indeed one of the most beautiful in the world.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Luxor, Egypt
- Located on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, Luxor is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The ancient Pharaonic city of Thebes has been inhabited ever since about 3200 BCE.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Luxor, Egypt
- The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to numerous ancient settings, including the Karnak Temple Complex, the Valley of the Kings, and the Valley of the Queens.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Jericho, West Bank
- The fortifications of Jericho date back to between 9000 and 8000 BCE, but the city in the Jordan Valley has been continuously inhabited since around between 11,000 and 9300 BCE.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Jericho, West Bank
- Jericho is located below sea level, making it the lowest continuously inhabited city on the planet. Sources: (U.S. News & World Report) (Treehugger) (TheTravel) (The Guardian) See also: Lost cities found–unearthing the civilizations of old
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
The oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world
Some are UNESCO site while others have been forgotten
© Shutterstock
There are many ancient cities, but not all of them have been continuously inhabited ever since the first settlements. Several cities, however, have been populated for millennia, and it seems like they're not going anywhere anytime soon. Most of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but some are sadly at risk of disappearing.
In this gallery, we bring you some of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Click on to learn all about them.
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