A Beautiful Journey to Ancient Merv

Once upon a time, a young boy named Döwlet travelled with his family to Mary province in Turkmenistan. It was his first time visiting the famous ancient city of Merv, and he felt excited the whole morning. His father said, “Today you will see a place where great history lives.” His mother smiled and packed fresh çörek and apples for the road.

They drove past the golden fields of Bayramaly, where the sun shone brightly on the desert sand. After some time, the old walls of ancient Merv appeared in the distance. When they arrived, Döwlet felt as if he had stepped into another time.

His father pointed to a tall, proud structure and said,

“This is the Mausoleum of Sultan Sancar. He was one of the most powerful rulers of the Seljuk Empire.”

Döwlet looked up at the huge building. Its turquoise dome shone under the sun. He imagined the great sultan riding across the desert with his soldiers, protecting his people and building cities.

They walked through the ruins—old stone walls, broken arches, and silent towers. Even though the city was quiet now, it felt alive with stories. The wind blew gently, carrying the smell of warm earth. Dowlwtl thought, “Many people lived here, learned here, and dreamed here.”

At lunchtime, they sat under a small tree and ate their food. His mother told him how Merv used to be one of the biggest cities in the world, a place where travelers, scholars, and traders met.

Before leaving, Döwlet took one last look at the horizon. The ancient city stood peacefully, holding its memories.

He whispered, “I will come back one day.”

His parents smiled. They were happy that their son felt the spirit of his homeland’s history.

Döwlet carried the feeling of Merv in his heart all the way home.

Vocabulary – Hekaýadaky käbir sözler

English	Pronunciation	Turkmençe
journey	/ˈdʒɜːrni/	syýahat
family	/ˈfæməli/	maşgalа
province	/ˈprɑːvɪns/	welaýаt
desert	/ˈdezərt/	çöl
city	/ˈsɪti/	şäher
history	/ˈhɪstəri/	taryh
ruler	/ˈruːlər/	han
building	/ˈbɪldɪŋ/	bina
dome	/doʊm/	gümmez
soldier	/ˈsoʊldʒər/	esger
traveler	/ˈtrævələr/	syýahatçy
scholar	/ˈskɑːlər/	alym
trader	/ˈtreɪdər/	söwdagär
memory	/ˈmeməri/	ýat
wind	/wɪnd/	ýel
earth	/ɜːrθ/	toprak
horizon	/həˈraɪzən/	gorizont
feeling	/ˈfiːlɪŋ/	duýgy / duýmak
tree	/triː/	agaç
story	/ˈstɔːri/	hekaýa