Beneath bustling city streets and modern skylines lie forgotten worlds, ancient cities long buried by time, disaster, or deliberate construction. These hidden layers tell stories of civilizations that once thrived where subways now run and skyscrapers reach the sky. Join us as we look at the buried cities that offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, revealing how today’s urban landscapes are shaped by those that came before.
Troy – Under Hisarlik, Turkey
Troy, which was once thought to be a myth, was unearthed beneath a mound in Hisarlik’s northwestern region. Further archaeological digs revealed many layers of cities that were built atop one another, with Troy VI or VII associated with the famous Iliad, written by Homer. Today, visitors may explore the ruins of Troy near the town of Tevfikiye, and marvel at its majestic walls that once withstood a mythic siege.
Babylon – Under Hillah, Iraq
Babylon was once the home of the Hanging Gardens as well as powerful kings like the late Nebuchadnezzar II, and was discovered underneath and around the current-day city of Hillah. Excavations of the surrounding area have uncovered inscriptions, temples, and gates that once belonged to the ancient Babylonians. Although most of the ancient city is difficult to preserve due to an encroaching urban sprawl, the city’s legacy will forever live on in Mesopotamian lore and grand biblical texts.
Carthage – Under Tunis, Tunisia
In 146 BCE, Rome razed Carthage, but the city’s remnants still lie beneath modern Tunis. Carthage was known as a Phoenician powerhouse before it fell in the Punic Wars. Visitors of today can find its ruins tucked between suburbs, hiding the remnants of harbors, Punic tombs, and Roman villas that offer a window into a city that once rivaled Rome itself.
Tenochtitlán – Under Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City was literally established on top of Tenochtitlán, the ancient Aztec capital. Centuries ago, Spanish conquistadors dismantled many palaces and temples and reused the stones to construct their new city. However, not all the buildings were destroyed, with many like the Templo Mayor, accompanied by other ruins lying beside and beneath colonial-era churches.
Jerusalem – Under Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem is one of the most well-known cities in the world, and beneath its bustling streets lie layers of Israelite, Byzantine, Roman, Canaanite, and Islamic structures. The many archaeological tunnels throughout the city have revealed walls, ritual baths, and streets dating back thousands of years. Jerusalem is a city where the past and present coexist with one another.
Londinium – Under London, England
Roman Londinium is the oldest ancient construction beneath modern London. Many roads, foundations, and even the famous London Wall have been found and are said to date back more than 2,000 years. Excavations only occur during construction, which have revealed jewels like temples, amphorae, and mosaics once created by the ancient Romans who inhabited England.
Susa – Under Shush, Iran
Susa was a royal city of the Persian, Elamite, and Parthian empires. Shush, a modern Iranian town, now stands above Susa, where archaeologists have uncovered palaces, ziggurats, and tombs, including the tomb of Daniel, according to tradition. It is said that Susa was once one of the most important cities in the ancient East.
Persepolis – Near Marvdasht, Iran
Although it’s not found directly under a modern city, Persepolis’s ruins are surrounded by the city of Marvdasht. Having once been a grand ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, it was later burned by Alexander the Great. Today, you’ll find that massive columns and bas-reliefs still stand as they remind us of the immense glory of Persian imperial architecture.
Beirut – Under Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut, the Lebanese capital, has been continuously inhabited for more than the last five thousand years. Lying beneath the skyscrapers of downtown Beirut, Phoenician walls, Roman baths, and Byzantine mosaics can still be found. As war and redevelopment often reveal new layers of history, ancient artifacts are unearthed time and time again during construction projects.
Rhakotis – Under Alexandria, Egypt
Before Alexandria, the area was home to Rhakotis. This was an Egyptian settlement dating back to at least the 13th century BCE, and much of this city was either buried or incorporated into the construction of Alexandria later on. Fragments of its existence still emerge in underwater excavations today, as well as other deeper digs in and around the city.
Thessaloniki – Under Thessaloniki, Greece
You would be surprised to know that the Via Egnatia, an ancient road connecting the Adriatic to Byzantium, runs under the modern city of Thessaloniki. Beneath its busy streets, the Roman metropolis lies complete with forums, roads, and houses. The construction of the metropolitan area has also unearthed some of the most significant finds in archaeology in recent decades, making it a true treasure trove of history.
Rome – Under Rome, Italy
Rome, or otherwise referred to as the Eternal City, is a living archaeological site. Beneath the already culturally and historically significant Baroque churches and Renaissance palaces, there are layers of Roman temples, roads, marketplaces, and homes. The Catacombs and hidden Mithraic temples offer us some subterranean glimpses into the city of ancient Rome. A true historic footprint of a city that has been reimagined countless times over millennia.
Knossos – Under Heraklion, Crete
Just outside of Heraklion lies the Minoan palace complex of Knossos. Many of its ruins are buried beneath centuries of settlement and vegetation, but this was once Europe’s oldest city. Knossos also features a labyrinthine style of architecture that inspired myths like that of the Minotaur. The 20th-century excavations of Sir Arthur Evans revealed the monumental past of this exceptional city.
Damascus – Under Damascus, Syria
Damascus is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited capital city in the world. Much of the ancient heritage of Damascus has been obscured by modern construction, hiding structures of Umayyad architecture, Roman columns, and older artifacts that lie around and beneath the city itself. Even the streets of Damascus still follow ancient layouts, which keep the ancient bones of the city intact.
Argos – Under Argos, Greece
Argos has remained occupied since prehistoric times, and beneath its modern architecture lie classical temples, Mycenaean graves, and a well-preserved ancient theater. The fertile plain and strategic location made it a prosperous city in early Greek history. However, many of its ancient features still remain buried or have been integrated into the modern buildings of the expanding city.
