Merv is a city several times thousand-year-old according to the Zend Avesta of the Iranian prophet Zarathoustra. Hindu traditions and Arab make " of it; the seat of the Paradise terrestre".

It is a historical city, current the Mary with the Turkménistan and city-stage of the Silk route. It is the antique Alexandria of Margiane , according to the name of the area where Alexandre Large the founded it.

It was important a évéché of the Christianisme nestorien between the VI {{E}} and the 14th century.

Merv was a time capital of the Seldjoukides before their projection towards the Iran.

Omar Khayyam (1048 - 1131) there remained of 1116 with 1118 and devoted itself to it to work of Astronomie before returning to finish its life in its birthplace of Nichapur.

It was a town of high culture, re-elected for its ten Bibliothèque S, and Yaqout Al-Rumi (1179 - 1229) there remained two years, little before its destruction by the Mongolian in 1221.

In 1999, the historical and cultural National park of “Old Merv” was registered with the World heritage of humanity by UNESCO.