Margiana
/mɑːrˈdʒiːənə/noun
An ancient historical region of Central Asia centered on the Murghab oasis in present-day southeastern Turkmenistan.
Did you know?Margiana was home to the Bronze Age civilization known as the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex, whose ritual objects and unusual burial practices still fuel speculation about ancient religion.
Etymological Timeline
1st millennium BCE or earlier
Old Iranian
*Margu-
“An ancient Iranian place-name associated with the Margu region or river; its deeper meaning is uncertain.”
6th–4th Century BCE
Old Persian
Marguš
“The name of a satrapy of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, centered on the Murghab oasis.”
5th–4th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Margianē
“The Greek name for the Central Asian region of Margiana.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Margiana
“The Latin geographical form used for the region east of the Caspian Sea.”
Medieval Period
Persian/Arabic
Marv or Marw
“The major oasis city later known in English as Merv, which became the region’s principal center.”
Modern English
English
Margiana
“A historical name for the ancient region around Merv and the Murghab oasis.”