Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Location of ancient Lycia in modern-day Turkey
Cities of ancient Lycia
Turkish coast near Dalaman, Gulf of Fethiye in background
A view in ancient Xanthus
Xanthos, theater
Xanthos River from the acropolis of Xanthos
Xanthian Obelisk
Mosaic at Xanthos
Harpy Tomb, Xanthus
Harpies from the Harpy Tomb, Xanthus
Butterfly Valley on the Lycian Way
View of monuments at Caunus
Acropolis and theater at Caunus
Ancient Patara
Ancient Patara
Ruins of Patara
View of Patara
Patara
Dunes near Patara Beach
Pinara, amphitheater
View of ancient Tlos
Acropolis at Tlos
Theater at Tlos
Entrance to amphitheater, Myra
Masks worn by actors at Myra
Ruins of Andriake
Tomb of Amyntas, Fethiye
Ancient bridge near Limyra
On the bridge near Limyra
Ruins in ancient Phaselis
Aqueduct at Phaselis
Part of the partially sunken settlement on Dolchiste Island
Ruins on Kekova Island
Tahtali Daği, "Mount Olympus"
Tahtali Daği
Olympus Beach, mountain in background
Göcek near Fethiye, Turkish Riviera , looking into the mountains of Lycia
Kaş
An eternal flame of Chimaera Mountain
Kemer Bridge (not near the city) over the Xanthus
This article contains a list of Lycian place names that have survived from ancient Lycia in Anatolia . Names of settlements and geomorphic features are known from ancient literary sources. Ptolemy 's Geography lists places in Asia Minor[ 1] and specifically Lycia.[ 2] Strabo 's Geography has a section on Lycia as well,[ 3] as does Pliny 's Natural History .[ 4] Stephanus of Byzantium includes a large number of Lycian places in Ethnica .[ 5] Hierocles in Synecdemus lists the cities in the eparchy of Lycia.[ 6] William Martin Leake 's Journal of his own trips through Anatolia, as well as of those of many other travellers, with analyses of sources, mainly Ptolemy, is still a valuable source of information on the locations and appearances of the Lycian sites.[ 7] In addition, numerous inscriptions in the Lycian language state some place names in their Lycian forms.[ 8] The topographical information comes from the Aydın thesis, and was developed from Turkish military maps.[ 9]
This article does not address the task of defining Lycia. Over a thousand or more years, the borders of the historical territory, called Lycia in English, are not likely to have remained invariant. This list includes places named by some source at some time as "Lycian", and also any settlement with a Lycian language name, even though located in some other city-state. "Lycia" therefore represents a maximum territory, to which any historical Lycia was never exactly identical.
Aydın studied 44 out of 78 known ancient settlements. Many more archaeological sites are not identifiable with ancient settlements. Aydın also collected information on 870 Turkish settlements over the same region.[ 10] The moderns, certainly, populate the region much more densely than the ancients.
Some of the modern place names are given in Turkish. For the most part, the equivalent English, French or German pronunciations are good approximations, but Turkish has some letters not present in those languages. Ğ or ğ is not pronounced, but lengthens the preceding vowel. For example, dağ, "mountain", is pronounced daa. Substitution of an English G or g is false. Ç or ç is a ch as in child, Ş or ş is an sh as in shore. What appear to be an English C or c is a J as in John, while the J or j is pronounced as the z in azure. The vowels have a short rather than a long pronunciation. As Turkish is an agglutinative language, the endings do not have the same meanings; e.g., daği is not the plural of dağ, which is daĝlar (daalar).
Contents: Top · 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Acalessus
Greek Akalessos
Stephanus, Hierocles, who has Akalisos.
Acarassus
Greek Akarassos
Stephanus
Aedesa River
Turkish Ak Çay.[ 11]
Pliny the Elder
Agathe Island
Greek Agathe.
Stephanus
Alimala
Greek Alimala
Stephanus
Alina Island
Greek Alina.
Stephanus, an island belonging to Crya.
Amelas
Pliny the Elder
Andriaca
36°13′46.6″N 29°57′30.6″E / 36.229611°N 29.958500°E / 36.229611; 29.958500 , Greek Andriake, 2.543 km (1.580 mi) from Tugluc, elevation 0.
Ptolemy, Pliny.
Anticragus Mountain
Greek Antikragos, Turkish Buba Dağ .[ 11]
Strabo.
Antiphellus
Greek Antiphellos, Turkish Kaş [ 11]
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, who says it was formerly Habessus, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Aperlae
Apr and prl
36°9′43.5″N 29°47′19.9″E / 36.162083°N 29.788861°E / 36.162083; 29.788861 , elevation 56 m (184 ft). Greek Aperlai, a former port of Lycia, Turkish Siçak Iskelesi,[ 11] the docks on Aperlai Bay, 4.11 km (2.55 mi) from Kiliçli.
Lycian name from coins. Listed in Ptolemy as Aperroe, in Pliny as Aperræ. Hierocles has Aperlai.
Apollonia Island
Greek Apollonia, Turkish Sıçak.[ 11]
Stephanus
Aptera
Greek Aptera
Stephanus
Araxa
Araththi
Greek Araksa, located at Turkish Ören on the Xanthus River.
Ptolemy, Stephanus, Hierocles. The Lycian name is from coins.
Argais Island
Greek Argais
Stephanus
Arna
See Xanthus
Arneae
Greek Arneiai.
Stephanus, who calls it a "small city" and says that Homer called it Orneiai.
Arsinoe
Greek Arsinoe
Stephanus
Artymnesus
Greek Artumnesos
Stephanus
Arycanda
Arykawanda
Greek Arukanda, located at Aykiriçay in Antalya Province .
Stephanus, Hierocles.
Arycandus River
Greek Arukandos, Turkish Karasu Çay.[ 12]
Pliny, who says it is a tributary of the Xanthus.
AscandalisAscandiandalis
Pliny the Elder Pliny[ 13]
Aspalathis Island
Greek Aspalathis
Stephanus
Aspis Island
Greek Aspis
Stephanus
Aulae
Greek Aulai
Stephanus
B
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Balbura
Greek Balboura, Turkish Çölkayaği[ 12] or Çölkayiği[ 14]
Ptolemy, Pliny, Stephanus
Balura
Greek Baloura.
Hierocles
Bubon
Greek Boubon, Turkish Ibecik.[ 12]
Ptolemy, Pliny, Stephanus, who says it is Homer's Boudeion, Hierocles.
C
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Cabalia
A region
Ptolemy, Strabo, who calls it Cabalis, and says it contains Oenianda, Balbura, Bubon. The Solymi lived there and the Lydians of Cibyra settled there. Part was in Milyas, part in Pisidia, and part in Rhodian territory, as well as in Lycia.
Cabessus
Greek Kabessos
Stephanus
Cadianda
Khadawãti
Greek Kaduanda, near Üzümlü.
Cadrema
Stephanus
Calbius Spring
Greek Kalbios Krene.
Stephanus says that some say it is Kalainon.
Callatebus
Greek Kallatebos
Stephanus
Calinda
Greek Kalunda, Turkish Kozpınar.[ 15]
Listed in Ptolemy in coastal Lycia
Canas
Pliny the Elder
Candyba
Khãkba
Greek Kanduba, close to Gendive.
Ptolemy, Pliny. Possibly the same as Hittite Hinduwa. Named for the son of Deucalion , according to Stephanus. Hierocles.
Cannus
Listed by Ptolemy as a coastal town
Carbana
Greek Karbana
Stephanus
Carmylessus
adjacent to Kaya [ 16]
Strabo says it is a settlement on a ravine of Anticragus Mountain.
Carya
Listed by Ptolemy as a coastal town
Carysis Island
Greek Karusis.
Stephanus, island belonging to Crya.
Caunus
Khbide
Greek Kaunos, a major city and seaport near Dalyan
Ptolemy lists the city as part of Doris, meaning Dorian Anatolia, near the Lycian border. Hierocles.
Chelidoniae Islands
Greek Chelidoniai, Turkish Beş Adalar.[ 12]
Strabo says there are three off the promontory, one with a landing for vessels.
Chelidonia Promontory
Greek Hiera Akra, "Sacred promontory ," Turkish Gelidonya Burnu.[ 12]
Ptolemy, who calls it cliffs, and Strabo, who says the continuous chain of the Taurus Mountains start here.
Cherrhonesus Promontory
Greek Cherrhonesos Akra
Stephanus
Chimaera Ravine
Avlan valley.[ 12]
Strabo says it is a ravine "extending up from the shore."
Chimaera Mountain
Turkish Yanartaş .[ 12]
Pliny speaks of an eternal flame, which turns out to be a steady stream of inflammable gas.
Chlyda
Listed by Ptolemy as a coastal town
Choma
Near Sarılar.[ 12]
Ptolemy, Pliny, who says it is on the Aedesa, Hierocles.
Chrysaor
Greek Chrysaoris.
Stephanus says this is a Carian city with substantial Lycian residents.
Cibyra
Greek Kibura , abandoned site north of Gölhisar .
Strabo. An independent city, ruler of the Tetrapolis, never politically part of Lycia, but housing a population element speaking the language of the Solymi. The state was called the Cibyratis.
Cisthene island and town
Strabo
Climax Mountain
Greek Klimaks
Strabo
Cochliousa Island
Greek Kochliousa
Stephanus
Comba
Greek Kombe
Ptolemy, Hierocles has Kombe.
Comistaraus
Greek Komistaraos.
Hierocles
Corycus
Greek Korukos
Described by Strabo as a stretch of coast.
Corydalla
36°22′5.9″N 30°18′4.6″E / 36.368306°N 30.301278°E / 36.368306; 30.301278 , Greek Korudalla, 424 m (1,391 ft) from Kumluca . Elevation 30 m (98 ft), not a mountain village.
Ptolemy, a mountain village of Pliny.
Cragus (KP)
Greek Kragos, a monetary district of Lycia
It had its own coinage. Implied by Ptolemy's "near the Cragus mountains."
Cragus Mountain
Greek Kragos, Turkish Avdancık or Sandak Dağ.[ 17]
Pliny, Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it has eight promontories.
Cragus
Greek Kragos.
Strabo mentions a city of the same name as the mountain.
Crambusa
Strabo
Crya
Greek Krua
Stephanus
Cyaneae
36°15′10.5″N 29°49′45.7″E / 36.252917°N 29.829361°E / 36.252917; 29.829361 , elevation 653 m (2,142 ft), Greek Kuaneai, 350 m (1,150 ft) from Turkish Yavı.[ 17]
Pliny the Elder
Cydna
Ptolemy
D
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Daedala
Greek Daidala. A known archaeological site at Inlice Asari on an uninhabited hill in the countryside about 2.5 mi. to the northeast of Göcek .[ 18]
A coastal town in Ptolemy, under Rhodes in Strabo and Stephanus, who says it was named after Dedalus .
Daedala Mountain
Kizildağ[ 19]
A mountain within Lycia on the western border, in Strabo, Stephanus.
Daphne
Stephanus
Dias
Stephanus
Dolchiste island
Greek Dolchiste, Turkish Kekova.[ 19]
Ptolemy, Stephanus.
Doliche Island
Greek Doliche.
Stephanus, who relates that Alexandros says it is the same as Dolchiste Island, but Callimachus does not.
Drepana
Stephanus
E
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Edebessus
Greek Edebessos
Stephanus
Elaiou Teichos
Stephanus
Elebesus
Greek Elebesos.
Hierocles
Eleutherai
Stephanus
Ereuates
Stephanus
Eudocia
Greek Eudokia
Hierocles
G
H
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources-
Henoanda
Greek Henoanda.
Hierocles
Hiera
See Chelidonia Promontory
Hephæstium
City located by Pliny below Chimaera Mountain
Hippou Kome
Turkish İtasar.[ 19]
Stephanus
Hoauapus
Greek Hoauapos.
Hierocles
Hylami
Greek Hulamoi.
Stephanus[ 20] [ 21]
Hytenna
Greek Hutenna
Stephanus
I
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Ilaris
Stephanus
Isinda
Isñta
Located at Belenli, or, at another period, Alaettin Mahalle, Korkuteli.[ 15]
Strabo
L
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Lamyra
Greek Lamura
Stephanus
Lamyrus River
Greek Lamuros
Stephanus
Limyra
Zẽmuri
Greek Limura, a coastal city
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Limyrus river
The Alakır Çay.[ 17]
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny.
Lycia
Trm̃mis
Greek Lukia, the ancient region now in Turkey .
Listed in Ptolemy and numerous classical texts and inscriptions, as well as being the Lukka lands of Late Bronze Age Hittite and Egyptian inscriptions.
Lycian Promontory
Pliny. See Chelidonia Promontory.
M
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Macra Island
Greek Makra, Turkish Meğri Ada.[ 22]
Stephanus
Masicytus
A political unit of Lycia
It had its own coinage. Implied by Ptolemy's "near the Masicytus mountains."
Masicytus mountains
Greek Masikytos, Turkish Alaca Dağ.[ 22]
Ptolemy lists without coordinates, Pliny has Masycites.
Megale Island
Greek Megale.
Stephanus
Megiste
Ancient Greek Megiste, modern Greek Kastellorizon.[ 22]
Strabo, Stephanus, who place it on the island, same name.
Megiste Island
Ancient Greek Megiste, Modern Greek Megiste, belongs to Greece.
Ptolemy, Strabo, Stephanus.
Melaenae
Greek Melainai
Stephanus
Melanippion
Greek Melanippion, on Turkish Karaöz Limanı.[ 22]
Stephanus
Menedemion
Stephanus
Meroe
Stephanus
Milias
Greek Miluas, Anglicised to Milyas. A district located on an alpine plain near Bay Dağ, identified by the Greek name on an inscription.
Ptolemy, Strabo.
Misai
Misae
Hierocles
Molydeia
Moludeia
Stephanus
Myra
36°15′47.1″N 29°58′37.0″E / 36.263083°N 29.976944°E / 36.263083; 29.976944 , elevation 239 m (784 ft), Greek Mura, 295 m (968 ft) from Sumeli in Demre .[ 22]
Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus. Hierocles has Myra Metropolis.
N
O
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Octapolis
Listed in Ptolemy
Oenoanda
Hieroglyphic Luwian Wiyanawanda
Turkish İncealiler.[ 22]
Ptolemy, Stephanus, Pliny as Oenianda
Olympus
Turkish Deliktaş.[ 22] Also called Hadrianopolis.
Listed by Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny.
Olympus, Mountain
Tahtalı Dağ.[ 22]
Strabo, who says it is also called Phoenicus.
P
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Patara
Lycian Pttara, Hieroglyphic Luwian Patara, Hittite Patar.
36°15′58.0″N 29°18′54.3″E / 36.266111°N 29.315083°E / 36.266111; 29.315083 , elevation 2 metres (6.6 ft), Greek Patara, a port city, capital of the Lycian League, at Turkish Gelemiş.[ 23] Also named Arsinoe.
Ptolemy, Strabo, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Perdicia
Greek Perdikia
Village and harbor in Stephanus
Phaselis
36°31′35.2″N 30°32′53.3″E / 36.526444°N 30.548139°E / 36.526444; 30.548139 , elevation 9 m (30 ft). 3,190 m (1.98 mi) from Egelkoyu in Tekirova.[ 23]
Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it is a city with three harbors and a lake.
Phasydis
Greek Phasudis.
Hierocles
Phellus
Wehñta
Greek Phellos, at Turkish Çukurbağ.[ 23]
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Phoinkous Island
Stephanus, "an island against Lycia."
Phrixus
Greek Phriksos
Stephanus
Physcia
Greek Phuskia
Stephanus, a mountain city
Pinara
Lycian Pilleñni, Hieroglyphic Luwian Pinali
Near the village of Minara in the Xanthus Valley.
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, who says it is a large city under Cragus. Hierocles.
Plateis Island
Greek Plateis.
Stephanus
Podalia
Greek Podalia, Turkish Söğle.[ 23]
Ptolemy, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Pyrra
Pliny the Elder
R
S
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Sacred Promontory
See Chelidonia Promontory
Sagalassus
Greek Sagalassos
Ptolemy, Strabo.
Sebeda
Greek Sebeda, Turkish Bayındır Liman.[ 24]
Stephanus, town and harbor.
Sidake
Greek Sidake.
Stephanus
Sidarous
Greek Sidarous, Turkish Ceneviz Limanı.[ 24]
Stephanus, town and harbor
Sidene
Greek Sidene
Stephanus
Sidyma
36°24′36.9″N 29°11′30.1″E / 36.410250°N 29.191694°E / 36.410250; 29.191694 , elevation 545 m (1,788 ft). Greek Siduma, Turkish Dodurga.[ 24]
Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it was on a mountain. Stephanus, Hierocles.
Simena
36°11′41.2″N 29°51′49.7″E / 36.194778°N 29.863806°E / 36.194778; 29.863806 , elevation 13 m (43 ft), 1.513 km (0.940 mi) from Kaleüçağız.
Stephanus, Pliny.
Sindia
Greek Sindia
Stephanus, possibly the same as Strabo's Sinda near or in Cabalis.
Scari
Greek Skaroi
Stephanus
Sirbis River
See Xanthus River.
Solyma Mountain
Turkish Güllük Dağ.[ 24]
Strabo. Elsewhere he calls it Solymus and says it is above Termessus.
Sura Oracle
Surezi
Greek Soura, Turkish Sura.[ 24]
Stephanus
Syessa Sanctuary to Leto
Greek Suessa
Stephanus
Symbra
Ptolemy
T
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Taurus Mountains
Greek Tauros, Turkish Toros Dağları
Strabo, who says they start at Cape Chelidonia.
Telandrus
Turkish Tersane.[ 25]
Pliny the Elder
Telephian Community
Greek Telephios Demos
Stephanus, a community at the spring.
Telephus Spring
Greek Telephou Krene.
Stephanus
Telmessis Promontory
Greek Telmessis akra, Turkish Çamlı Burun.[ 25]
Strabo says it is a promontory with a harbor. Stephanus.
Telmessus
Telebehi
36°37′21.3″N 29°6′41.4″E / 36.622583°N 29.111500°E / 36.622583; 29.111500 , Greek Telmessos, at Turkish Fethiye , elevation 6 m (20 ft).
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny. Stephanus says it is a city of Caria, although expressing also the Lycian view. Hierocles has Telmisos.
Tenedos
Stephanus
Termera
Stephanus
Termessus
Trm̃mis
Greek Termēs(s)os
Described by Strabo as a city of Pisidia in the pass to Milyas. Same name as Lycia. Strabo says the Termessians are called the Solymi . Cibyra is just below and near Termessus.
Thryanda
Greek Thruanda
Stephanus
Tlos
Lycian Tlãñna, Hieroglyphic Luwian Talawa
36°33′51.9″N 29°25′14.8″E / 36.564417°N 29.420778°E / 36.564417; 29.420778 , elevation 370 m (1,210 ft). Greek Tlos, near Turkish Düğer.[ 25]
Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus. Hierocles has Tlo.
Trauala
Greek Trauala.
Stephanus
Tymena
Greek Tumena
Stephanus says it is a village of Lycia.
Tymnessus
Tuminehi < *Tumine, * Tumini, or *Tumina
Greek Tumnessos.
Stephanus says it is a city of Caria but the citizens were Lycian at first.
X
English classical name
Inscriptional name
Description
Sources
Xanthus
Lycian Arñna, Hieroglyphic Luwian Awarna, and possibly Arinna
Greek Ksanthos, the largest city of Lycia, the site of present-day Kınık, Antalya Province, Turkey.
Listed in Ptolemy, Hierocles, Strabo, who says it was later called Arsinoe, and Pliny. Stephanus says it was called Arna before Xanthus.
Xanthus river
Hittite Siyanti
Turkish Esen Çay.[ 25]
Listed by Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it was formerly the Sirbis, and Pliny.
Notes
^ Book 5, Chapter 2.
^ Book 5, Chapter 3.
^ Strabo . "Book XIV, Chapter 3". Geography . Also Strabo . "Book XIII, Chapter 4, Sections 15-17" . Geography .
^ Pliny the Elder . "Book V, Chapter 28". Natural History .
^ Stephanus of Byzantium (1849). "Index" . Ethnica .
^ Hierocles (1893). "Eparchia Lukias". In Augustus Burckhardt (ed.). Synecdemus . Lipsiae: Teubner. pp. 26 –28. Lykia.
^ Leake 1824 , Chapter 5.
^ This article relies heavily for its Lycian names on Bryce 1986 , pp. xvi, 70, 76–93, 211. Bryce in turn was influenced by Houwink ten Cate, Ph. H. J. (1961). "Chapter Four, The Transliteration of Proper Names, 3. The Greek transliteration of Lycian place names". The Luwian Population Groups of Lycia and Cilicia Aspera During the Hellenistic Period . Leiden, Netherlands: Brill. pp. 106–108. Houwink ten Cate lists all the inscriptions bearing on the names. Most present variants. Only one appears in column 2 above, typically that favored by Bryce. There are slight differences in the transliteration to English as well.
^ Aydın 2006 , pp. 39, 102
^ Aydın 2006 , p. 84.
^ a b c d e Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 997.
^ a b c d e f g h Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 998.
^ Pliny . Naturalis Historia . Vol. 5.28.101.
^ Stillwell, Richard. MacDonald, William L. McAlister, Marian Holland (1976). "The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites" . Princeton University Press. Retrieved December 9, 2014 . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
^ a b Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 1000.
^ Richard Talbert (8 October 2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World . Princeton University Press. p. 1000. ISBN 0-691-03169-X . Retrieved December 18, 2014 .
^ a b c Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 1001
^ Freely 2004 , p. 270.
^ a b c Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 999.
^ Stephanus of Byzantium . Ethnica . Vol. s.v .
^ Richard Talbert , ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World . Princeton University Press. p. 65, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9 .
^ a b c d e f g h Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 1002.
^ a b c d Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 1003.
^ a b c d e f g Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 1004
^ a b c d Foss & Mitchell 2000 , p. 1005.
References
Bryce, Trevor (1986). The Lycians . Vol. 1, The Lycians in literary and epigraphic sources. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press. ISBN 87-7289-023-1 .
Leake, William Martin (1824). Journal of a tour in Asia Minor, with comparative remarks on the ancient and modern geography of that country . London: Murray.
Freely, John (2004). The western shores of Turkey: discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts . Tauris Parke paperbacks. London: Tauris Parke.
Foss, C.; Mitchell, S. (2000), "Map 65 Lycia - Pisidia", in Talbert, J.A. (ed.), Map-by-Map Directory (PDF) , Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 998–1012
Aydın, Ervin Kenan (January 2006). Examining the Lycian sites by using GIS (PDF) (Master of Science in Archaeometry thesis). Ankara: Middle East Technical University.
External links
Foss, Pedar W. "Lycia" . Encyclopedia of the Roman Provinces (ERP) . Archived from the original on 2012-02-26.
† Italy was never constituted as a province, instead retaining a special juridical status until
Diocletian 's reforms.