The ancient city in Africa

The ancient city of Thebes dates back to 3,200 BC and is the oldest city in Africa. Thebes was founded around the same time as Memphis (which isn’t on this list because it doesn’t exist anymore) but in the first 1,000 years of its existence, it was overshadowed by Memphis and Herakleopolis Magna.

Thebes was the fastest growing city between 3,000 and 2,000 BC and it became the capital of the Egyptian Kingdom in 2,135 BC. The city eventually fell first to the Macedonians, and later to the Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans but throughout the years it remained the religious capital of Egypt as the city of the god Amun-Ra. Today, Luxor is home to 1.3 million people and is the fifth-largest city in Egypt.