Really? A thousand ancient cities? Why? For what purpose? I know it's a metaphor but what it means I have absolutely no idea. And when you listen to the whole song that line really doesn't fit with or relate to the rest of the lyrics at all. The only thing I can figure is it's meant to sound like some grand romantic gesture whatever it's supposed to be about. Maybe the writers wanted something that sounded great and got stuck and that's what they finally came up with. But it just ends up sounding weird and ridiculous.