The oldest cities in the world
11 Arab cities were classified as among the oldest cities in the world in a report published by the British newspaper The Telegraph, and those cities were in order of the most recent to the oldest, Erbil in Iraq, Tyre in Lebanon, Jerusalem in Palestine, Beirut in Lebanon, Sidon in Lebanon, Fayoum in Egypt, Damascus in Syria, Aleppo in Syria, Byblos in Lebanon, Jericho in Palestine, and thus Jericho will be the oldest city In the Arab world and in the world.
Jericho is the oldest Arab city in the world
It is known as the oldest city in the world and the lowest place on earth, as some call it the city of the moon, which is a Palestinian city located specifically in the West Bank close to the Jordan River and on the northern side of the Dead Sea sixteen kilometers away, so that its history dates back to To about ten thousand years BC, during the period between 1948 AD, and 1976 AD it was subject to the rule of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and then subjected to the Israeli occupation, and in the year 1994 AD the Palestinian National Authority entered it and took over its administration.
Ancient civilizations in Jericho
Many civilizations rolled over that city, and because of its antiquity, this city lived through all ages, and in the Stone Age it was inhabited and its inhabitants were known for agriculture and stability. The Persians occupied it and the Christian religion spread in it, and in Islamic times that city was subjected to the rule of Muawiya bin Sufyan, and after that the Crusaders
occupied it and Saladin defeated them in the Battle of Hattin and liberated it from them.
The Israeli occupation in the Stone Intifada in 2001 .
Jericho climate
Since Jericho is the lowest region in the world as it is located in the Jordan Valley, it is hot and dry in summer, and moderate in winter, and many tourists visit it during the winter period when the temperature is appropriate.
Historic places in Jericho
Jericho is a tourist city visited by tourists, being the oldest city in the world, as it is the focus of everyone’s attention despite its high temperature, and since it has witnessed throughout
all ages, it contains many historical attractions, including:
- Hisham’s Palace:
Hisham’s Palace is one of the main archaeological sites in Jericho. The palace was built in the eighth century during the Umayyad period and was used as a place for
hunting and a winter resort, and the name of the site is associated with the Umayyad Caliph – Hisham Ibn Abd al-Malik. The site is located two kilometers north of Jericho.
The site consists of royal buildings, a mosque, water fountains, and magnificent mosaic floors that show the beauty of Islamic architecture. - The Mountain of Temptation:
The mountain of experience is located in the city of Jericho. This mountain reaches a height of 350 meters. The place is also sometimes referred to as the Arba’een Days Mountain or Mount Qarntal in the Arabic language. The origin of both names is derived from the Latin word Quarentena, meaning forty. The first person to think about preserving the sanctity of the place was the Empress of Constantinople, Helena, who built an ancient structure on it in 325 AD. - Wadi Qelt:
It consists of high rock walls that extend for 45 kilometers between Jericho and Jerusalem.
Among the most prominent stations of the valley is Ain al-Qelt, which is a spring that astonishes visitors with its beauty and force of flow in the winter, reaching a height of about 70 cm, and its springs are full throughout the year.
The valley is also known as a great location for climbing and hiking, especially in the winter. Distinctive signs have been placed on a 15-kilometer walking path that begins from the Citadel’s springs to the site of “Talul Abu Al-Alyq” or “Herod’s Winter Palace” in Jericho. - The shrine of the Prophet Mose:
The shrine of the Prophet Musa is located on one of the ancient roads linking Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. , The site is the place where Moses was buried. The tomb of the Prophet Musa has become a site of annual pilgrimage since the reign of Saladin (1137 AD – 1193 AD).
The main part of the present mausoleum, the mosque, the minaret, and some rooms was built during the reign of Sultan Zahir Baybars in 1269 AD. The Hajj at that time began with thousands of people being brought from Jerusalem to the Prophet Musa in a procession, after which they camped at the site for a week. The bituminous rocks around the shrine add to its charm and sanctity, as it is flammable and used by pilgrims as fuel for warmth and cooking.