World's Oldest City

[Cd.]

http://www.jericho-city.org/historical.html

Jericho is a green oasis in the Jordan Valley which lies 7 km west of the River Jordan, 10 Km north of the Dead Sea and 30 Km east of Jerusalem. It lies 250 meters below sea level and thus it is considered to be the lowest city in the world.

The origin of the name "Jericho" is Semitic. To the Canaanites it meant "The Moon". In Syriac the name meant "Scent and odour". The city is called "The city of Palm" and "The Garden of God".

Jericho is the oldest city in the world. The ruins of the oldest civilization discovered in Jericho are 10,000 years old. There are a lot of important and beautiful historical places to visit in Jericho, such as Old Jericho, River Jordan where Jesus Christ was baptized, Mount of Temptation, Hisham Palace, Ein Al-Sultan (Elisha) spring, Sycamore tree, Monastery of Saint George (Wadi Kelt), Hasmoneans (Herod) Palace,Monastery of Dier hajlah, Kumran Caves, Dead Sea, and a lot more. The nice climate of the city is conducive to tourism both domestic and International.

The average temperature in January is 8.5 degrees and the lowest average annual temperature is 17 degrees. The average annual temperature is 23.5 degrees and the highest average annual temperature is 30.5 degrees. The average annual amount of rainfall is 150 millimeters, and the average annual humidity is 52%.

The amount of rainfall in the Jericho area is less than that of the surrounding mountains and the coastal regions, thus Jericho area relies entirely for drinking and irrigation on subterranean wells and springs such as the Ein Al-Sultan spring. The source of this water is situated in the distant mountains. Ein Al-Sultan spring in considered to be the main source for agriculture. It has an output of 680 cubic meters an hour, and a salinity of 600 fractions in one million. It provides a steady output throughout the year. It is used equally for drinking water and for irrigating.

In addition to its tourist sites, Jericho is considered to be an important area for agriculture. It is famous for its citrus fruits, dates, bananas, flowers and winter vegetables.

The area within the municipality limits is about 45 square kilometers, and the population of the city of Jericho alone is 17,000. If we include the population of the surrounding villages and refugee camps the number goes up to 25,000 inhabitants.

first: Its names and their significance

The origin of the name, "Jericho" is Semitic. The common people pronounce it "Riha". To the Cananaites it meant "the moon". The word is derived from the verb "yerihu", and "Yarah". Al-Yarah in the language of southern Arabia means "a month" and "moon". In Hebrew "yarihu" is the most ancient known city in the Jewish Bible. "Riha" in Syriac means "scent and odour."

The Arabs knew the city of Jericho referred to in the Bible by the name "Raiha" and "Ariha".Yaqut, the writer of "Mu'jam al-Buldan," mentions that it is the city of Al-Jabbarin (the Mighty) in the Ghaur, and that it was called Ariha Ibn Malik Ibn Arfakhshad Ibn Sam Ibn Noah, may peace be upon him. He mentions another name for it, Ariha' mentioned in the poetry of Jarir:
I shall have to increase that suspicion which has beset the slave of Banu Numair.
The devils of the land fear my roar, and the serpent of Aryaha' has responded to me.
Yaqut also refers to it in the form "Ariha'. in the measure "af'al". He quotes Al-Hutahle's saying: I searched for it (my sword) among the swords of Jericho, and when it returned to my hand I found no parallel to it.
Al-Bakri says. "It is 'Ariha', or perhaps 'Ariha', when attributing (a noun ) to it they just say 'Aryahiyy', It was called, "Anthony's present to Cleopatra, when Egypt fell under the rule of Anthony, Cleopatra, the beautiful Queen of Egypt met him. He was so bewitched by her beauty that he deserted his wife, sister of Octavious ( Augustus ). Cleopatra deprived her lover of his will-power for nine whole months. He became infatuated with her and offered her a large section of Syria. The Palestinian shores, together with Jericho and its groves abundant with balm, as well as the Dead Sea, were among what he offered Cleopatra

[Katalina]

That was a very interesting read.

[h2g2Fan]

I thought the world was only 8,000 years old?

tee hee

[Tally]

The oldest city I have ever been to was Pompeii in Italy, which was buried in 79 AD when Vesuvius erupted. It was so amazing to go wander through the ruins of the city. Here are some pictures

[Cd.]

My nephew went there and told me it was just amazing. He said that he was shocked at how much porn was around the place. Seems that Romans were total perverts. I suppose they are no different than modern americans!

[BadNews88]

Originally Posted by Criminal

My nephew went there and told me it was just amazing. He said that he was shocked at how much porn was around the place. Seems that Romans were total perverts. I suppose they are no different than modern americans!

Sadly, that decadence just may be one chief reason why Rome fell...

Equally sad is that the handwriting's on the wall for THIS society, as well..

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by BadNews88

Sadly, that decadence just may be one chief reason why Rome fell...

Equally sad is that the handwriting's on the wall for THIS society, as well..

Actually, the Western Roman Empire lasted at least another 300 years, maybe more, AFTER Pompeii was buried. And don't forget the Eastern Roman Empire had another millenium to go, porn or no porn.

[Red_Thunder]

As always Crim, great read!

[BadNews88]

Originally Posted by Ironweed

Actually, the Western Roman Empire lasted at least another 300 years, maybe more, AFTER Pompeii was buried. And don't forget the Eastern Roman Empire had another millenium to go, porn or no porn.

All things being equal, what with the quantum leaps in technology we've made & stuff......

....I think we're gonna last another 200 years...

[dorag]

Originally Posted by Criminal

My nephew went there and told me it was just amazing. He said that he was shocked at how much porn was around the place. Seems that Romans were total perverts. I suppose they are no different than modern americans!

romans were pretty notorious in ancient world for their violent pervertness.

[Cd.]

Originally Posted by BadNews88

Sadly, that decadence just may be one chief reason why Rome fell...

Equally sad is that the handwriting's on the wall for THIS society, as well..

Decadence was a contributing factor but not really the main reason. I think it had to do with the continual reliance of the Roman Legion on foreign mercenaries combined with the shift of power from west to east, as the Byzintine Empire prospered so did the Roman empire decline. Roman culture did continue beyone the deposal of the last emporer and continued under the Visagoths until the conquest of Italy by the Lombards. The great historian Gibbons believed that Christianity was the cause of Rome to fall. Most modern historians find this to be totally untrue.