Sumerians interesting facts. Interesting facts from the life of the Sumerians
In ancient times, the city was the capital of the Hashemite state, formed by an Arab tribe. You can find a stone miracle in the desert near the resort of Akkaba. To explore all its attractions you will need about 4 hours, during which you will have to cover a distance of 10 km. The excursion begins at the entrance to a narrow gorge, at the exit of which vacationers are greeted by the Al Khazneh building. The temple-mausoleum, also called the Treasury of the Pharaohs, conveyed the skills of the best stonemasons of antiquity. It is followed by a street with a Colonnade, attractive with red and pink buildings. The Ed-Deir monastery rises on one of the rocks, the Roman 3-story palace beckons with its beauty, and the Urn Tomb catches your eye. Most of the buildings were intended for rituals.
It was built by the Greeks in the 9th century BC. Over the many years of its existence ancient city was able to absorb the cultural and historical values of many countries ancient world. Even a one-time visit to Ephesus allows you to see many unique attractions that annually attract thousands of tourists. This is the fountain of Emperor Trojan, the library of Celsus, the destroyed temples of Artemis and Hadrian, the remains of sanctuaries of nymphs and ordinary buildings, attractive due to the unusual designs. Surprisingly, the huge amphitheater, built by the Hellenes for entertainment, has been perfectly preserved to this day. Ephesus has undergone many changes during its history, but no events could take away its beauty and wealth. Unusual city leaves indelible memories.
The city is a landmark that conveys the luxury and grandeur of the ancient Persian Achaemenid Empire. In 330 BC. he was burned by the Macedonian. Despite this, the city still has perfectly preserved remains of the ancient palace complex. They are located on a high platform and occupy 135 thousand square meters. m. The cultural “core” of Persepolis is the apadana, or giant square-shaped hall, accommodating up to 10 thousand people. The apadana rises on a 2.5-meter platform, and its walls are made of durable raw brick material. Medieval Persepolis was used by local residents as a quarry. Since 1931, archaeological work began to be carried out here. The columns of Persepolis are decorated with ancient images and covered with writings by tourists who wished to leave a memory of themselves in the form of their own names.
A temple city, lost between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges. It is shrouded in many legends that explain its appearance on Lebanese soil. The city owes its name to Baal, the deity worshiped by the Egyptians and Assyrians. The attractions of Baalbek are the temples, amazing for their architecture. Scientists still cannot understand how, without the use of high-tech tools, ancient people managed to polish huge blocks of stone so smoothly and use them for construction. Lebanese researchers are also surprised by the fact that under the temple lies a system of underground passages. The width of this ancient labyrinth is about 3 m, the height is 2.5 m. The southern stone of Baalbek is also attractive for tourists, upon climbing which you can feel like a microparticle of the vast Universe.
An ancient Syrian city, the first mention of which is found in the chronicles of the 19th century BC. The small elliptical town is decorated with an 11-meter colonnade connecting the cult and shopping centers. This colonnade is considered main street, but when moving along it you can see arched branches leading to neighboring streets. The center of the road is decorated with a triumphal arch, which, despite its dilapidated condition, still amazes with its grandeur. The street ends with the sanctuary of Bel, built in 32 AD. in honor of the local deity. This temple was the main one, and its territory was represented by a courtyard with pools. The Temple of Nabo, the ruins of Roman baths, the amphitheater, the Senate, the agora, Diocletian's camp, the Necropolis and the fortress of Qalaat Ibn Maan are considered the main attractions of Palmyra.
The ancient capital of the island of Sri Lanka. Its main attraction is Stone Temple, erected for the worship of Buddha. 4 huge statues of the deity are carved directly into the granite rock. Pilgrims are especially attracted by the statue of Buddha with his arms crossed on his chest. The wealth of Polonnaruwa are numerous Brahminical monuments, the ruins of the garden city of King Parakramabahu, the Lotus Bath, and Lake Parakrama Samudraya. The Cave of the Spirits of Knowledge, also known as Gal Vihara, is recognized as a mysterious territory in Polonnaruwa. And this is not usual underground kingdom, and an open stone wall with impressive statues of Buddha carved from stone, frozen in a reclining and standing pose. Today, the ancient city is represented by the remains of palaces and temples, enclosed within the rectangle of the city wall.
The ancient Mexican city belonged to the Itza people. The name has an interesting translation - “well of the Itza tribe.” Once having hundreds of buildings, the city occupied approximately 6 square meters. miles. Today it looks like ruins, among which historical value represent about 30 surviving buildings. Archaeologists attribute Chichen Itza to the Mayan culture, because. Most of the buildings were erected by representatives of this tribe. Another group of ancient buildings and cenotes - smooth-walled wells - were built already during the Toltec period from the 10th to the 11th centuries AD. But the most striking buildings remain those erected by the Mayan tribe (under them, the city became the largest religious and ceremonial center). These are the Pali House, the Deer House, the Red House, the Temple with lintels, the church, the monastery with outbuildings, Akab Dzib.
One of the unusual cities ancient mexico. It is located on the edge of the Anahuac Valley in a treeless highland area. The year of its foundation is considered to be 750 AD. In the Nahuatl language, the word "Teotihuacan" means the area where people turn into gods. Teotihuacan has a great number of attractions. The city is rich in temples and palaces, the walls of which are decorated with original frescoes. His historical place The Citadel is considered to be a square framed by platforms with 16 pyramids. According to researchers, the royal residence of the ruler of the ancient city was located here. Hidden inside the Citadel is another attraction - the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent. However, the pyramids of the Sun and Moon have always eclipsed the monuments of the mysterious Teotihuacan with their grandeur and beauty.
The city in ancient times belonged to the Incas, over time it became the center of tourism in South American Peru. Built in the 15th century. in the mountains, it received a suitable name - “old mountain” (Quechua language). The news of the existence of a particle Ancient world, lost in the Andes, was made public in 1911 by the American Hiram Bingham. Marvelous Machu Picchu is also called the city in the clouds. Modern researchers of its territory are amazed by the fact that when the Incami city was founded, all the nuances of geology, topography, ecology and astronomy were taken into account. All the buildings, distinguished by their unusual triangular roofs, stand on natural slopes, but they are built in such a way that they will not be damaged even in the event of an earthquake. Since 2007, this wonderful city has been included in the register of New Wonders of the World. His artifacts are on display in the Cusco City Museum.
An ancient city founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th century. BC, located on the Mediterranean coast next to the city of Homs (Africa, Libya). For 3 centuries it was subject to Carthage, at the end of the Second Punic War it belonged to the Numidians, and then to the Romans. The peak of its heyday occurred at the end of the 2nd century. AD Today in the city you can see many Roman monuments: the ruins of Hadrian’s Baths, the theater, triumphal arch Septima Sevres, central hall with statues and mosaics, the ruins of once luxurious villas decorated with mosaics, a Forum, a semicircular Nymphaeum, and a Basilica. Outside the city there is an amphitheater and a circus. The Roman Circle is also very interesting. The structure, which looks like a horseshoe, is located on the eastern side of Leptis Magna.
The most ancient cities in the world - some of them disappeared from the face of the earth forever, leaving only ruins and memories. And there are settlements whose names have been laid out long haul in history and have survived to this day. Their streets are full of architectural sights, magnificent in their beauty and monumentality, looking at which you are mentally transported back to the depths of centuries.
Jericho is the oldest city on Earth
The Judean Hills dominate the West Bank. At their foot, at the mouth of the river flowing into the Dead Sea, is the ancient city in the world - Jericho. On its territory, archaeologists have discovered fragments of ancient buildings dating back to 9500 BC. e.
The history of this settlement was described in the Old Testament. It is also mentioned in Roman chronicles. There is a legend that Jericho was brought as a gift to Cleopatra by Mark Antony. But magnificent buildings in this city were built by King Herod, who received rule over this city from the Emperor of Rome, Augustus. It was during his era that many monuments appeared ancient architecture, preserved in this city to this day.
There are also records that the Christian church appeared in Jericho in the first century AD. Constant raids by Bedouins and hostility between Muslims and knights led to the decline of the city by the 9th century. AD In the 19th century, the Turks destroyed the once prosperous center of the ancient world, Jericho.
It was only in 1920 that the oldest city in the world, Jericho, received its second life. Arabs began to populate it. Now it is permanently home to approximately 20,000 people.
The main attraction is the Tel es-Sultan hill, on which stands a tower dating back to the 6000th century. BC.
Nowadays, military operations are constantly taking place in Jericho, a disputed land between Palestine and Israel. For this reason, the beauty of this place is hidden from tourists. At the very least, the governments of many countries do not recommend their citizens to visit it.
Famous surviving cities of antiquity
Over the course of many centuries, civilizations developed and cities appeared. Some of them were destroyed as a result of wars or natural disasters. Few of the most ancient cities in the world, which have survived multiple changes of eras, can still be visited today:
On earth, which are named as the most ancient cities in the world. Many of them are still being destroyed today, despite the establishment of special protection regimes. international organization UNESCO.
Although determining the exact age of ancient settlements is not so simple task for science, as it seems at first glance, a number of cities are known today, which scientists call the oldest on the planet.
Jericho, 5000 years
The history of the ancient city of Jericho begins in the 9th millennium BC. e., when traces of the first human habitation were discovered here. Located 30 km from Jerusalem, Jericho was mentioned more than once in gospel events. The mention in the Bible brought Jericho religious fame and later attracted crowds of scholars who wanted to document the biblical chronology.
According to some archaeologists, Jericho is the oldest excavated city in the world, dating back some 6,000 years of almost continuous occupation. The signs at the entrance to the city, which read: “The most ancient city in the world,” are also in a hurry to declare this. In addition, the city is more than 200 m below sea level, making it one of the lowest in the world.
Byblos, 7000 years
On the Lebanese coast Mediterranean Sea from ancient state Phenicia, whose center is located in modern Lebanon, the ancient city of Byblos has survived to this day, which is often mentioned as the most Old city planets. IN ancient times Byblos was known as one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, through which papyrus was exported from Egypt to Greece.
During the era of wars, the city was not spared by any of the conquerors of the ancient world, leaving fortress walls, amphitheaters, temples and colonnades in memory of themselves. Today Byblos is a small fishing town in northern Lebanon with a population of 20,000 people, which preserves an ancient harbor with stone walls and towers, a Roman amphitheater, stone wells with sarcophagi of rulers and the ruins of Hellenic temples. The central square of the city is decorated with the ancient Egyptian Temple of the Obelisks, built almost 4,000 years ago.
Aleppo, 6300 years old
A number of cities in neighboring Syria also vie for the title of the oldest on the planet. The country's largest city by population, Aleppo, was first mentioned in III millennium BC e. as the capital of the ancient Semitic state of Ebla. Over the course of its history, more than a dozen conquerors from Alexander the Great to Tamerlane passed through the city, leaving their traces on the appearance of Aleppo.
Due to its strategic location on the Silk Road, Aleppo attracted many traders from all over Asia. The Al Madina covered market in the old city has survived to this day, which is the world's largest historical market with a length of almost 13 km. The market together with the territory of the old city and the famous Aleppo Citadel - medieval fortress 10th century - listed World Heritage UNESCO.
Susa, 6200 years old
The city of Susa in southwestern Iran is another contender for the title of the oldest in the world. It gained fame as the capital of the ancient state of Elam, which existed on the territory of Iran from the 3rd millennium BC. After the fall of Elam, the city became first the residence of the Assyrian and then the Persian kings.
Currently Susa is small town with a population of 60,000 people. Despite its significant cultural and historical heritage, the city is not famous for its ruins ancient palace Elamite kings, but a fortress built by French archaeologists in the late 1890s, which ensured their safety and the safety of their finds.
Al-Fayoum, 6000 years old
Another ancient city in the world is El Fayoum, located in Egypt, south of the Nile Delta. The settlement on the site of El-Fayoum dates back to the 4th millennium BC. e. The ancient Egyptians called the city Shedit, and the Greeks who arrived in it called it Shedit for its worship. local residents The city of Crocodilopolis was nicknamed for the god Sebek with the head of a crocodile. In Crocodilopolis, during the Nile flood, there were so many predators in the local swamps that the priests, considering this a sign, declared them sacred animals. Sacred animals were often well fed, decorated with diamonds, and even mummified after death.
Modern El-Fayoum became famous for the burial portraits of the 1st-4th centuries found here in the 19th century in tombs in the vicinity of the city. The find attracted the attention of archaeologists and scientists from all over the world - more than 900 portraits were found, which can be seen in many museums around the world.
Plovdiv, 5000-6000 years
Among the oldest cities on the planet there are also European examples. One of them is the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv in the central part of the country. Evidence of the first permanent settlement on the site of the city dates back to the 4th millennium BC. e. Plovdiv reached its peak after its conquest by the Romans, who left a rich cultural heritage. Among the ancient attractions of the city are an ancient Roman amphitheater, baths and a hippodrome, as well as the remains of a stone Thracian fortress. The restored 3,000-seat amphitheater today serves as the city's concert venue.
Athens, 6000-7000 years
The ancient city of Athens, on the site of which a metropolis now grown to 3.5 million people is located, dates back its origins to the 4th millennium BC. e. Cradle ancient greek culture, Athens has always been an important center of the Mediterranean. Since ancient times, the city has been known for its outstanding philosophers and architects, who had a significant influence on the development of other states. The city's surviving ancient monuments are world-famous attractions. Among them Athenian Acropolis- a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in honor of greek gods in the 5th century BC e., Hadrian's Arch, ancient temple Hephaestus and many others.
Gaziantep, 5650 years old
The city of Gaziantep in southern Turkey was founded by the Hittites presumably in the 4th millennium BC. e. Over several thousand years of its history, the city was ruled by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Armenians, Byzantines and Arabs. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Gaziantep was known for its large Armenian diaspora, which ceased to exist after the genocide in 1915.
Today, Gaziantep attracts tourists with its fortress, historic mosques and the world's largest museum of Roman mosaics, most of which were found in the nearby ancient city Zeugma, flooded during the creation of a reservoir on the Euphrates River.
Damascus, 5000-6000 years
The time of the emergence of the capital of Syria, Damascus, was lost somewhere in the 3rd millennium BC. e., and according to some estimates, even earlier. The history of Damascus is full of conquests, changes of rulers and dominant religions. One of the main attractions of the city is the Oymeyad Mosque, erected in the 8th century, standing on the site of the Byzantine Church of John the Baptist, which, in turn, stands on the site of the pagan Temple of Jupiter. In this oldest and one of the most revered mosques Arab world The religious shrine of both Islam and Christianity is kept - the tomb of John the Baptist.
Today Damascus is one of the largest metropolises in the Middle East, located in an oasis along the banks of the Barada River. The city has preserved many historical monuments, including ancient fortress, a palace, churches and mosques, which, having survived more than one century, are now under threat of destruction due to instability in the region.
Beirut, 5000 years
The capital of Lebanon, Beirut, is also considered one of the oldest cities in the world. IN historical times Beirut long time was in the shadow of other Phoenician cities, and only with the arrival of the Romans did its heyday begin. Becoming the center of Roman culture in the eastern Mediterranean, Beirut became famous for the world's first law school.
Ancient and complicated story The Paris of the East, as Beirut is sometimes called for its distinctive appearance, has led to Beirut becoming one of the most religiously diverse cities in the entire Middle East, where Christians, Muslims and Jews live side by side. Due to its dynamic development and rich cultural heritage, the city periodically ranks first in ratings of the most attractive cities on the planet to visit.
Memphis, Babylon, Thebes - all of them were once the largest centers, but only the name remains of them. However, there are cities that have existed throughout human history, from the Stone Age to the present day.
Jericho (West Bank)
At the very foot of the Judean Mountains, opposite the confluence of the Jordan into the Dead Sea, is located the most ancient city on earth - Jericho. Traces of settlements dating back to the 10th-9th millennium BC were found here. e. It was a permanent site of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture, whose representatives built the first Wall of Jericho. The Stone Age defensive structure was four meters high and two meters wide. Inside it was a powerful eight-meter tower, which was obviously used for ritual purposes. Its ruins have survived to this day.
The name Jericho (in Hebrew Yericho), according to one version, comes from the word meaning “smell” and “fragrance” - “reach”. According to another, from the word moon - “yareah”, which could have been revered by the founders of the city. We find the first written mention of it in the book of Joshua, which describes the fall of the walls of Jericho and the capture of the city by the Jews in 1550 BC. e. By that time, the city was already a powerful fortified fortress, whose system of seven walls was a real labyrinth. Not without reason - Jericho had something to protect. It was located at the crossroads of three important trade routes of the Middle East, right in the middle of a flourishing oasis with a lot of fresh water And fertile soil. For the inhabitants of the desert, this is a real promised land.
Jericho was the first city to be captured by the Israelites. It was completely destroyed, and all the inhabitants were killed, with the exception of the harlot Rahab, who had previously sheltered the Jewish scouts, for which she was spared.
Today, Jericho, located in the West Bank of Jordan, is a disputed territory between Palestine and Israel that remains in an area of constant military conflict. Therefore, visiting the most ancient and rich in historical sights of the city is not recommended.
Damascus: “Eye of the Desert” (Syria)
Damascus, the current capital of Syria, is fighting for first place with Jericho. The most early mention about him was found in the list of conquered cities of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who lived in 1479-1425 BC. e. In the first book of the Old Testament, Damascus is mentioned as a large and well-known center of trade.
In the 13th century, the historian Yaqut al-Humawi argued that the city was founded by Adam and Eve themselves, who, after being expelled from Eden, found refuge in the cave of blood (Magarat ad-Damm) on Mount Qasyoun on the outskirts of Damascus. The first murder in history described in the Old Testament also took place there - Cain killed his brother. According to legend, the self-name Damascus comes from the ancient Aramaic word “demshak”, which means “brother’s blood”. Another, more plausible version says that the name of the city goes back to the Aramaic word Darmeśeq, translated as “well-watered place.”
It is not known for certain who first founded the settlement near Mount Kasyun. But recent excavations in Tel Ramada, a suburb of Damascus, have shown that people settled the area around 6300 BC. e.
Byblos (Lebanon)
Rounding out the top three ancient cities is Byblos, known today as Jebeil. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, 32 km from Beirut, the current capital of Lebanon. It was once a large Phoenician city, founded in the 4th millennium BC, although the first settlements in this area date back to the later stone age– VII millennium.
The ancient name of the city is associated with the legend of a certain Byblis, who was madly in love with her brother, Kavnos. She died of grief when her lover fled to escape sin, and her shed tears formed an inexhaustible source of water that watered the city. According to another version, byblos in Greece was the name for papyrus that was exported from the city.
Byblos was one of the largest ports ancient era. It was also known for the spread of the cult of Baal there, the formidable Sun god, who “demanded” self-torture and bloody sacrifices from his followers. The written language of ancient Byblos still remains one of the main mysteries of the Ancient World. Proto-Byblos writing, widespread in the second millennium BC, is still indecipherable; it is not similar to any of the known writing systems of the Ancient World.
Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
The oldest city in Europe today is considered to be not Rome or even Athens, but the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, located in the southern part of the country between the Rhodope and Balkan mountains (the home of the legendary Orpheus) and the Upper Thracian Lowland. The first settlements on its territory date back to the 6th-4th millennia BC. e., although Plovdiv, or rather, then still Eumolpiada, reached its heyday under the peoples of the sea - the Thracians. In 342 BC. it was captured by Philip II of Macedon - father famous Alexander, who named it Philippopolis in his honor. Subsequently, the city managed to be under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, which made it the second cultural center in Bulgaria after Sofia. In world history, Derbent became an unspoken “blockpost” between Europe and Asia. Here lay one of the most important sections of the Great Silk Road. It is not surprising that it has always been a favorite object of conquest for its neighbors. showed him big interest The Roman Empire was the main goal of the campaigns of Lucullus and Pompey in the Caucasus in 66-65 BC. it was Derbent. In the 5th century AD e. When the city belonged to the Sassanids, powerful fortifications were erected here to protect against nomads, including the Naryn-Kala fortress. From it, located at the foot of the mountain range, two walls descended to the sea, designed to protect the city and trade route. It is from this time that the history of Derbent as a large city dates back.
