Visiting the five oldest cities in the world

Greece is said to be the birthplace of democracy  (Photo: Taylor)

CHARLOTTE, NC  — Travel marketers know all too well that there's a universal quest to seek out "Est" destinations; the biggest or smallest, the tallest or shortest or even the first or last, most or least and so on.

For many modern travelers ancient civilizations have much appeal as we attempt to learn how man evolved in centuries past where massive architectural achievements were made without access to today's technology.

It's difficult to imagine daily routines dating back 5,000 and 10,000 years or more, but as researchers uncover relics from the past, we gradually obtain clearer pictures of what life was like centuries ago.

Better yet, taking the opportunity to visit some of these sites is truly eye-opening for even the most skeptical among us. Here are five of the oldest places that remain alive and active today.

Greece was the epicenter of art and culture nearly 4,000 years ago
(Photo: Pixabay)

Athens, Greece: With a recorded history of more than 3,400 years, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. Thanks in large part to the development of its port of Piraeus, which still thrives today, Athens was once a powerful city-state where human presence began somewhere between the 11th and 7th millennium BC.

Home to Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, Athens claims the honor of being the birthplace of democracy. Clearly, at the height of its power, it was the epicenter of art and philosophy.

Greece also gave us the
Olympics  (Photo: Pixabay)

Time has not been kind to Athens, however. While the ruins of the Parthenon and other structures remain, including the marketplace known as the Agora, where travelers can still stroll through the same streets as Socrates and Plato, the city is largely a polluted, congested metropolis that is but a shell of its former greatness.

Nevertheless, as home to several prominent UNESCO sites, the historical significance of Athens should not be overlooked.

Saint George Armenian Church in Aleppo

(Photo -- Kevorkmail -- licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)

Aleppo, Syria: Stability in the Middle East is a relative term, meaning that travel to the region at any given time can be potentially dangerous. Sadly, had it not been for recent hostilities in Syria, Aleppo would likely be considered a place to explore one of the oldest cities in the world.

There are signs of civilization in Aleppo as far back as 8,000 years while just 15 miles away it is possible to increase that number by 5,000.

The Great Mosque is one reason
Aleppo is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
(Photo: Pixabay)

The Citadel of Aleppo, the Great Mosque, and countless other medieval buildings and antiquities have justifiably made the city a UNESCO World Heritage title.

Geographically, with the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Euphrates River to the east, Aleppo was ideally situated to become wealthy as a prominent trading port.

Despite the recent turmoil, Aleppo remains unique in its own way, and one day will resume its place in history on traveler's bucket lists.

Massive crowds come to the Ganges each night in Varansi, the
spiritual capital of India  (Photo: Taylor)

Varanasi, India: With its location in northeast India on the shores of the Ganges River, Varanasi is not only one of the oldest cities in the world, it is also regarded as the spiritual capital of the country.

According to legend, Lord Shiva founded the city 5,000 years ago, and with its location on the Holy Ganges River, it remains a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus who "cleanse" themselves in its water each day at sunrise and sunset.

Watching the nightly ritual from
boats on the Ganges
(Photo: Taylor)

"Cleanse" is a matter for interpretation however, since the Ganges itself is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

Many believe Buddha founded Buddhism in Varanasi around 528 BC when he gave his first sermon, "The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma" in nearby Samath.

Thus, the streets of Varanasi teem with literally thousands of visitors each night who make their way to the banks of the river for religious renewal.

Hindus believe that death in the city brings salvation, making it a major center for pilgrimage. As such, the shoreline is dotted nightly with the funeral pyres of those who have departed the world within the past 24-hours.

Perhaps the best way to describe Varanasi is "a metaphor for India."

Jericho is the oldest continuously occupied city in the world
(Photo: Public Domain)

Jericho, Palestinian Territories: Not only is Jericho one of the oldest civilizations in the world with archaeological remains as far back as 9000 BC, it is also the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. Thus far, 20 different settlements have been unearthed by archaeologists in Jericho, the earliest of which goes back 11,000 years.

Located 845 feet below sea level in the Jordan Valley, Jericho also has the distinction of being the lowest ancient city in the world.

Though Jericho sits in the midst of a scorching desert climate, is has numerous natural springs surrounding the city which have allowed it to endure.

Lithograpg depicting the ancient city of Jericho
(Photo: Public Domain)

Given its longevity, Jericho's history is deep and rich. It was here at Jericho Tell, also called the Settlement Mound, where archaeologists found many early remains, including the Biblical Mount of Temptation and the cliff-side Saint George Monastery – founded in 480 AD.

The world famous Dead Sea Scrolls were also uncovered between 1946 and 1956 in the nearby Qumran Caves in the Judaean Desert on the northern shore of the Dead Sea.

Tiny alleyway between buildings in the Lebanonese village of Byblos  (Photo: Pixabay)

Byblos, Lebanon:  Though Byblos may not appear to be a household destination for many, the English word “Bible” is derived from this city’s name.

As with Jericho, this once quiet fishing village is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Famous for its ship building, Byblos became a bustling port  with the city’s name coming from its most sought-after export, the papyrus tree.

In fact, Byblos' paper contained some of the first passages of the Bible.

The Byblos Obelisk Temple

(released into the public domain 

by its author, Abraham 

at Polish Wikipedia)

The origin of our present-day alphabet was also founded in the city, carved into the stone coffin of King Ahiram around 1200 BC. It later became known as the Phoenician Tablet.

Needless to say, Byblos has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So you see, when it comes to travel, never under-EST-imate its value.