Ahar

Ahar (Persian: اهر) is a city in and the capital of Ahar County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 85,782, in 20,844 families. Ahar is known on the market place for its Ahar rugs. Ahar is one of the ancient cities of Azarbayjan, its name before islam was "meimad" , after presentation of islam this city has been named "ahar" or "ahrich" that was chief town of region Garadagh. Ahar in Arabic means "Ash tree". Ash (Vaan) is a tree that was abundant in Ahar region. In the 12th-13th centuries, Ahar was a minor and short-lived, but prosperous emirate ruled by the Pishteginid dynasty of Georgian origin (1155—1231).