Turkmenistan is home to the ancient city of Merv, once one of the largest cities in the medieval world.
The ruins of Merv lie near the modern city of Mary in southeastern Turkmenistan. The site is not a single settlement but a succession of urban centers built across the broad oasis of the Murghab River. This sequence reflects Merv’s long history as a major center of trade and political power.
Merv was connected to routes across Central Asia and the wider Silk Road. It served under several empires, including the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Sasanian, Islamic and Seljuk realms. Under the Seljuks, it became an especially important capital and intellectual center.
UNESCO inscribed the State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv” as a World Heritage Site in 1999. Travelers sometimes confuse Merv with nearby Mary, the modern city that grew in the same broad oasis region.