Jericho

Jericho

An ancient city famous for its walls

Jericho, near the Jordan River, is among the oldest known inhabited places, with traces of settlement going back about 10,000 years. In the Book of Joshua its walls fell after the Israelites marched around them for seven days, though archaeologists disagree about what the excavated ruins show. Abundant springs have made it an oasis for millennia, and it is known for its dates. Herod the Great built a winter palace nearby. Jericho is administered by the Palestinian Authority and Israelis are barred from entering, so visitors should check current conditions.

Glossary: Jericho