An ancient city in Central Asia (modern-day Mary, Turkmenistan), historically a major trade and cultural center.
From Old Persian origins, the city was known in antiquity and became a crucial hub on the Silk Road. The name passed through Greek, Arabic, and Persian sources throughout history.
Merv was once one of the largest cities in the world and the heart of Persian culture, yet today it's a small town—showing how dramatically history can shift trade routes and centers of power. Its ruins contain layers of civilization going back millennia.
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