As my title asks I want to know if large cities formed in areas that wasn't on or near a major body of water (river, lake, sea, ocean) If any did what was the terrain like and why did it form their?
Also did any major cities form on rivers that had nothing upstream of them except the rivers source or uninhabited lands?
Edit: another question. Apart from the obvious reasons for founding a city. (Fresh water source, arable land) What other things made a place suitable for a village to grow.
Also if there are any books on the subject that people could recommend it works be awesome
The village of Châteumeillant in Central France was once considered an immensely holy city that was also the capital of the Bituriges tribe. The Bituriges were given the honor of choosing the king of the Celts, according to Livy. Châteumeillant derives it's significance from the fact that it is at the center of a solar meridian that is the longest longitudinal line that goes from the northernmost part of Gaul to its southernmost tip. The Druids of the Celts used this solar meridian, along with Pythagorean mathematics, to devise an amazingly complex solar network that contributed to the geographical placing of numerous holy sites and cities in Gaul, as well as in Britain and Ireland later on. Châteumeillant is placed oddly for such an important city, since there are no major bodies of water nearby. The solar meridian is the reason for this strange placement. Graham Robb details this system incredibly well in his book, 'The Ancient Paths,' published by Pan Macmillan. I highly suggest you read it. Here is a good summary of the book, and also my source (aside from the book itself): http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/11/ancient-paths-graham-robb-review
The obvious ones are Jerusalem and Mecca -- religious and political centers that attained significance because of the faiths associated with them.
Slightly less obviously, Dunhuang, Kashgar, or any of the other Central Asian Silk Road cities, that exist as trade centers around oases.
A reminder to potential respondees to this question: answers in /r/AskHistorians do need to meet the standard of being comprehensive and informative. Simply naming ancient cities far from water is not acceptable. Part of the OP's question is why these cities developed where they did; please respect them by addressing that in your answers.
While not ancient like Ur, Timbuktu was a major hub between the Saharan nomads (salt) and the sub-saharan peoples.
Also Samarkland for the Silk Road and booming as the seat of Timur.