Merya people

An approximative map of the non-Varangian cultures in European Russia, in the 9th century. The Merya region is shown in purple

The Meryas (also Merä) were an ancient tribe who lived in the region of modern Russian cities of Moscow, Rostov, Kostroma, Jaroslavl and Vladimir. They probably spoke a Finnic language related to the languages spoken by other tribes in the surrounding larger region, such as the Mari, the Mordvins, the Meshchera and the Vepses who were their neighbours. They were an old and important culture which is shown in the numerous archaeological finds in those areas.

They are mentioned by the 6th century Gothic scholar Jordanes as the Merens and later by the Russian chronicles.

They were assimiliated by the Slavs.

See also

• Merya language

References

• Uvarov, "Étude sur les peuples primitifs de la Russie. Les mériens" (1875).

This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904 and 1926, now in the public domain.