Don’t believe it.
Nobody knows exactly how old Jericho is. A few other cities — Damascus, Byblos, and Beirut among them — claim to be as old or older. For that matter, Jericho itself may be closer to 11,000 years old. And on the matter of being continually inhabited, well, there was a time when the walls came tumbling down. Some archaeological evidence suggests the city was abandoned for at least a few stretches of time. However, at least one part of the ancient city, the tower, still stands after 9-10,000 years’ existence; it is easily the oldest structure of its kind ever found.
At 850 feet below sea level, its claim to have the lowest altitude of any city in the world stands unchallenged.
In the light of all this, the city has chosen 10/10/10 to be as good a date as any to celebrate its decamillennial, i.e., 10,000th birthday. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, under the oversight of the Palestinian government, is hoping to leverage the 10/10/10/10,000 date to encourage sustainable cultural, social, and economic investments that can establish Jericho and the lower Jordan Valley as a growing community for Palestinians (it’s one of few West Bank towns that have room to expand) and as a major destination on the tourism map. They hope to double their present rate of 1 million visitors per year.
The city had taken important steps in that direction when, in 1998, it built the only casino in the region, a $50 million project. It was run by Austrians and catered only to Israelis, barring Palestinians, except as employees. Israeli and international visitors soon were forking over $1 million per day, but it went for naught when the Intifada broke out two years later. Israelis were placed under a travel ban, and the casino closed. That ban persists to this day.
But the city’s leaders have pressed ahead with their development efforts. So far Russia has stepped up by bankrolling a new museum, and the United States and Japan are funding solar energy projects. Palestinians of means have been purchasing plots of land for second homes in five new housing developments. And, while the casino facility remains shuttered, the adjacent Intercontinental Hotel has reopened to tourists, offering four-star luxury resort accommodations, inviting its guests to venture out to explore the ancient ruins and relive the rich history resident in the neighborhood — between swims and mud baths in the nearby Dead Sea.
From roots back to the Stone Age to the fall of its walls in Joshua’s day; from Elijah’s launch pad to Elisha’s spring, which provides the city’s water to this day; from David hiding and refreshing himself in the nearby Springs of En Gedi, to the southern tip of the Jordan River to which “all of Jerusalem” went to be baptized by John; from Jesus’ visit with tree-climbing Zacchaeus, to the traditional site of his 40 days of testing — the towering Mount of Temptation, reached easily via cable car – Biblical stories shout their tales to those who take the time to listen.
Other stories ring out, too — its role as an administrative center for the Persian Empire; as a gift given Cleopatra from Mark Antony (which she, in turn, leased to Herod the Great); the archaeological treasure that is Hisham’s Palace, built in 743-44 CE, in the style of Roman baths, with its exquisite mosaics, the most famous one being of the tree of life. This city has stories to tell.
So while the date of its birthday may be disputed, the hopes of its residents are sure. Jericho is building its way into the second decamillennium.
