Mayen is a town in the Mayen-Koblenz District of the Rhineland-Palatinate Federal State of Germany, in the eastern part of the Volcanic Eifel Region.

From the end of the 3rd century up until the Middle Ages, potteries operated here, and their products were traded and sold across Central Europe.

These sarcophagi were found buried with significant glass artifacts as grave goods (both classes of items are displayed in the Genovevaburg Museum in Mayen).

Records from as far back as 847 show this as a designation of the town; it was adapted by the Romans from the Celtic word magos, meaning field.

Mayen received its first official recognition in 1041, and was granted Town Status in 1291 by Rudolf I von Habsburg, at the same time as Bernkastel, Welschbillig, Montabaur and Saarburg.

During the Second World War, in particular during the allied forces air attacks of 12 December 1944 and 2 January 1945, approximately 90% of the town was destroyed.