Balkh

Balkh (Persian: بلخ Balkh; Bactrian: Baktra) was an ancient city and centre of Zoroastrianism in what is northern Afghanistan. Today it is a small town in the province of Balkh, about 20 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Mazar-e Sharif, and some 74 km (46 mi) south of the Amu Darya. It was one of the major cities of Khorasan. Marco Polo described Balkh as a "noble and great city".