List of Lycian place names

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 Aydin thesis, and was developed from Turkish military maps.[9]

Location of ancient Lycia in modern-day Turkey
Some of the detail 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
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 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.

Aydin studied 44 out of 78 known ancient settlements. Many more archaeological sites are not identifiable with ancient settlements. Aydin 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 nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
AcalessusGreek AkalessosStephanus, Hierocles, who has Akalisos.
AcarassusGreek AkarassosStephanus
Aedesa RiverTurkish Ak Çay.[11]Pliny the Elder
Agathe IslandGreek Agathe.Stephanus
AlimalaGreek AlimalaStephanus
Alina IslandGreek Alina.Stephanus, an island belonging to Crya.
AmelasPliny the Elder
Andriaca36°13′46.6″N 29°57′30.6″E, Greek Andriake, 2.543 km (1.580 mi) from Tugluc, elevation 0.Ptolemy, Pliny.
Anticragus MountainGreek Antikragos, Turkish Buba Dağ.[11]Strabo.
AntiphellusGreek Antiphellos, Turkish Kaş[11]Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, who says it was formerly Habessus, Stephanus, Hierocles.
AperlaeApr and prl36°9′43.5″N 29°47′19.9″E, 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 IslandGreek Apollonia, Turkish Sıçak.[11]Stephanus
ApteraGreek ApteraStephanus
AraxaAraththiGreek Araksa, located at Turkish Ören on the Xanthus River.Ptolemy, Stephanus, Hierocles. The Lycian name is from coins.
Argais IslandGreek ArgaisStephanus
ArnaSee Xanthus
ArneaeGreek Arneiai.Stephanus, who calls it a "small city" and says that Homer called it Orneiai.
ArsinoeGreek ArsinoeStephanus
ArtymnesusGreek ArtumnesosStephanus
ArycandaArykawandaGreek Arukanda, located at Aykiriçay in Antalya Province.Stephanus, Hierocles.
Arycandus RiverGreek Arukandos, Turkish Karasu Çay.[12]Pliny, who says it is a tributary of the Xanthus.
AscandalisPliny the Elder
Aspalathis IslandGreek AspalathisStephanus
Aspis IslandGreek AspisStephanus
AulaeGreek AulaiStephanus

B

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
BalburaGreek Balboura, Turkish Çölkayaği[12] or Çölkayiği[13]Ptolemy, Pliny, Stephanus
BaluraGreek Baloura.Hierocles
BubonGreek Boubon, Turkish Ibecik.[12]Ptolemy, Pliny, Stephanus, who says it is Homer's Boudeion, Hierocles.

C

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
CabaliaA regionPtolemy, 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.
CabessusGreek KabessosStephanus
CadiandaKhadawãtiGreek Kaduanda, near Üzümlü.
CadremaStephanus
Calbius SpringGreek Kalbios Krene.Stephanus says that some say it is Kalainon.
CallatebusGreek KallatebosStephanus
CalindaGreek Kalunda, Turkish Kozpınar.[14]Listed in Ptolemy in coastal Lycia
CanasPliny the Elder
CandybaKhãkbaGreek Kanduba, close to Gendive.Ptolemy, Pliny. Possibly the same as Hittite Hinduwa. Named for the son of Deucalion, according to Stephanus. Hierocles.
CannusListed by Ptolemy as a coastal town
CarbanaGreek KarbanaStephanus
Carmylessusadjacent to Kaya[15]Strabo says it is a settlement on a ravine of Anticragus Mountain.
CaryaListed by Ptolemy as a coastal town
Carysis IslandGreek Karusis.Stephanus, island belonging to Crya.
CaunusKhbideGreek Kaunos, a major city and seaport near DalyanPtolemy lists the city as part of Doris, meaning Dorian Anatolia, near the Lycian border. Hierocles.
Chelidoniae IslandsGreek Chelidoniai, Turkish Beş Adalar.[12]Strabo says there are three off the promontory, one with a landing for vessels.
Chelidonia PromontoryGreek 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 PromontoryGreek Cherrhonesos AkraStephanus
Chimaera RavineAvlan valley.[12]Strabo says it is a ravine "extending up from the shore."
Chimaera MountainTurkish Yanartaş.[12]Pliny speaks of an eternal flame, which turns out to be a steady stream of inflammable gas.
ChlydaListed by Ptolemy as a coastal town
ChomaNear Sarılar.[12]Ptolemy, Pliny, who says it is on the Aedesa, Hierocles.
ChrysaorGreek Chrysaoris.Stephanus says this is a Carian city with substantial Lycian residents.
CibyraGreek 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 townStrabo
Climax MountainGreek KlimaksStrabo
Cochliousa IslandGreek KochliousaStephanus
CombaGreek KombePtolemy, Hierocles has Kombe.
ComistarausGreek Komistaraos.Hierocles
CorycusGreek KorukosDescribed by Strabo as a stretch of coast.
Corydalla36°22′5.9″N 30°18′4.6″E, 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 LyciaIt had its own coinage. Implied by Ptolemy's "near the Cragus mountains."
Cragus MountainGreek Kragos, Turkish Avdancık or Sandak Dağ.[16]Pliny, Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it has eight promontories.
CragusGreek Kragos.Strabo mentions a city of the same name as the mountain.
CrambusaStrabo
CryaGreek KruaStephanus
Cyaneae36°15′10.5″N 29°49′45.7″E, elevation 653 m (2,142 ft), Greek Kuaneai, 350 m (1,150 ft) from Turkish Yavı.[16]Pliny the Elder
CydnaPtolemy

D

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
DaedalaGreek Daidala. A known archaeological site at Inlice Asari on an uninhabited hill in the countryside about 2.5 mi. to the northeast of Göcek.[17]A coastal town in Ptolemy, under Rhodes in Strabo and Stephanus, who says it was named after Dedalus.
Daedala MountainKizildağ[18]A mountain within Lycia on the western border, in Strabo, Stephanus.
DaphneStephanus
DiasStephanus
Dolchiste islandGreek Dolchiste, Turkish Kekova.[18]Ptolemy, Stephanus.
Doliche IslandGreek Doliche.Stephanus, who relates that Alexandros says it is the same as Dolchiste Island, but Callimachus does not.
DrepanaStephanus

E

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
EdebessusGreek EdebessosStephanus
Elaiou TeichosStephanus
ElebesusGreek Elebesos.Hierocles
EleutheraiStephanus
EreuatesStephanus
EudociaGreek EudokiaHierocles

G

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
Gagae36°17′56.4″N 30°21′17.3″E, elevation 34 m (112 ft). Greek Gagai, located at Yali, within Mavikent, within Kumluca. This is not, however, a mountain community. Opinions vary.A mountain village in Pliny, an old fort in Stephanus. Hierocles has Gaga.
Glaukou demosStephanus says it was named after the hero, Glaucus.

H

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources-
HenoandaGreek Henoanda.Hierocles
HieraSee Chelidonia Promontory
HephæstiumCity located by Pliny below Chimaera Mountain
Hippou KomeTurkish İtasar.[18]Stephanus
HoauapusGreek Hoauapos.Hierocles
HylamiGreek Hulamoi.Stephanus
HytennaGreek HutennaStephanus

I

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
IlarisStephanus
IsindaIsñtaLocated at Belenli, or, at another period, Alaettin Mahalle, Korkuteli.[14]Strabo

L

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
LamyraGreek LamuraStephanus
Lamyrus RiverGreek LamurosStephanus
LimyraZẽmuriGreek Limura, a coastal cityPtolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Limyrus riverThe Alakır Çay.[16]Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny.
LyciaTrm̃misGreek 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 PromontoryPliny. See Chelidonia Promontory.

M

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
Macra IslandGreek Makra, Turkish Meğri Ada.[19]Stephanus
MasicytusA political unit of LyciaIt had its own coinage. Implied by Ptolemy's "near the Masicytus mountains."
Masicytus mountainsGreek Masikytos, Turkish Alaca Dağ.[19]Ptolemy lists without coordinates, Pliny has Masycites.
Megale IslandGreek Megale.Stephanus
MegisteAncient Greek Megiste, modern Greek Kastellorizon.[19]Strabo, Stephanus, who place it on the island, same name.
Megiste IslandAncient Greek Megiste, Modern Greek Megiste, belongs to Greece.Ptolemy, Strabo, Stephanus.
MelaenaeGreek MelainaiStephanus
MelanippionGreek Melanippion, on Turkish Karaöz Limanı.[19]Stephanus
MenedemionStephanus
MeroeStephanus
MiliasGreek Miluas, Anglicised to Milyas. A district located on an alpine plain near Bay Dağ, identified by the Greek name on an inscription.Ptolemy, Strabo.
MisaiMisaeHierocles
MolydeiaMoludeiaStephanus
Myra36°15′47.1″N 29°58′37.0″E, elevation 239 m (784 ft), Greek Mura, 295 m (968 ft) from Sumeli in Demre.[19]Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus. Hierocles has Myra Metropolis.

N

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
NisaPtolemy
NoscopiumPliny the Elder

O

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
OctapolisListed in Ptolemy
OenoandaHieroglyphic Luwian WiyanawandaTurkish İncealiler.[19]Ptolemy, Stephanus, Pliny as Oenianda
OlympusTurkish Deliktaş.[19] Also called Hadrianopolis.Listed by Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny.
Olympus, MountainTahtalı Dağ.[19]Strabo, who says it is also called Phoenicus.

P

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
PataraLycian Pttara, Hieroglyphic Luwian Patara, Hittite Patar.36°15′58.0″N 29°18′54.3″E, elevation 2 metres (6.6 ft), Greek Patara, a port city, capital of the Lycian League, at Turkish Gelemiş.[20] Also named Arsinoe.Ptolemy, Strabo, Stephanus, Hierocles.
PerdiciaGreek PerdikiaVillage and harbor in Stephanus
Phaselis36°31′35.2″N 30°32′53.3″E, elevation 9 m (30 ft). 3,190 m (1.98 mi) from Egelkoyu in Tekirova.[20]Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it is a city with three harbors and a lake.
PhasydisGreek Phasudis.Hierocles
PhellusWehñtaGreek Phellos, at Turkish Çukurbağ.[20]Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles.
Phoinkous IslandStephanus, "an island against Lycia."
PhrixusGreek PhriksosStephanus
PhysciaGreek PhuskiaStephanus, a mountain city
PinaraLycian Pilleñni, Hieroglyphic Luwian PinaliNear the village of Minara in the Xanthus Valley.Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, who says it is a large city under Cragus. Hierocles.
Plateis IslandGreek Plateis.Stephanus
PodaliaGreek Podalia, Turkish Söğle.[20]Ptolemy, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles.
PyrraPliny the Elder

R

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
RhengcyliasGreek RhegkuliasHierocles
Rhax IslandGreek RhaksStephanus
Rhoge IslandGreek Rhoge, Turkish Kara Ada.[21]Stephanus
Rhodia36°22′38.0″N 30°16′31.7″E, elevation 44 m (144 ft), not a mountain village. Greek Rhodia, near Kumluca.[21]Stephanus, Ptolemy, Pliny, who calls it Rhodiopolis, and a mountaian village.

S

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
Sacred PromontorySee Chelidonia Promontory
SagalassusGreek SagalassosPtolemy, Strabo.
SebedaGreek Sebeda, Turkish Bayındır Liman.[21]Stephanus, town and harbor.
SidakeGreek Sidake.Stephanus
SidarousGreek Sidarous, Turkish Ceneviz Limanı.[21]Stephanus, town and harbor
SideneGreek SideneStephanus
Sidyma36°24′36.9″N 29°11′30.1″E, elevation 545 m (1,788 ft). Greek Siduma, Turkish Dodurga.[21]Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it was on a mountain. Stephanus, Hierocles.
Simena36°11′41.2″N 29°51′49.7″E, elevation 13 m (43 ft), 1.513 km (0.940 mi) from Kaleüçağız.Stephanus, Pliny.
SindiaGreek SindiaStephanus, possibly the same as Strabo's Sinda near or in Cabalis.
ScariGreek SkaroiStephanus
Sirbis RiverSee Xanthus River.
Solyma MountainTurkish Güllük Dağ.[21]Strabo. Elsewhere he calls it Solymus and says it is above Termessus.
Sura OracleSureziGreek Soura, Turkish Sura.[21]Stephanus
Syessa Sanctuary to LetoGreek SuessaStephanus
SymbraPtolemy

T

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
Taurus MountainsGreek Tauros, Turkish Toros DağlarıStrabo, who says they start at Cape Chelidonia.
TelandrusTurkish Tersane.[22]Pliny the Elder
Telephian CommunityGreek Telephios DemosStephanus, a community at the spring.
Telephus SpringGreek Telephou Krene.Stephanus
Telmessis PromontoryGreek Telmessis akra, Turkish Çamlı Burun.[22]Strabo says it is a promontory with a harbor. Stephanus.
TelmessusTelebehi36°37′21.3″N 29°6′41.4″E, 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.
TenedosStephanus
TermeraStephanus
TermessusTrm̃misGreek Termēs(s)osDescribed 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.
ThryandaGreek ThruandaStephanus
TlosLycian Tlãñna, Hieroglyphic Luwian Talawa36°33′51.9″N 29°25′14.8″E, elevation 370 m (1,210 ft). Greek Tlos, near Turkish Düğer.[22]Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus. Hierocles has Tlo.
TraualaGreek Trauala.Stephanus
TymenaGreek TumenaStephanus says it is a village of Lycia.
TymnessusTuminehi < *Tumine, * Tumini, or *TuminaGreek Tumnessos.Stephanus says it is a city of Caria but the citizens were Lycian at first.

X

English classical nameInscriptional nameDescriptionSources
XanthusLycian Arñna, Hieroglyphic Luwian Awarna, and possibly ArinnaGreek 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 riverHittite SiyantiTurkish Esen Çay.[22]Listed by Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it was formerly the Sirbis, and Pliny.

Notes

  1. Book 5, Chapter 2.
  2. Book 5, Chapter 3.
  3. Strabo. "Book XIV, Chapter 3". Geography. Also Strabo. "Book XIII, Chapter 4, Sections 15-17". Geography.
  4. Pliny the Elder. "Book V, Chapter 28". Natural History.
  5. Stephanus of Byzantium. "Index". Ethnica.
  6. Hierocles (1893). "Eparchia Lukias". In Augustus Burckhardt (ed.). Synecdemus. Lipsiae: Teubner. pp. 26–28. Lykia.
  7. Leake 1824, Chapter 5.
  8. 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.
  9. Aydin 2006, pp. 39, 102
  10. Aydin 2006, p. 84.
  11. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 997.
  12. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 998.
  13. Stillwell, Richard. MacDonald, William L. McAlister, Marian Holland (1976). "The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites". Princeton University Press. Retrieved December 9, 2014.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 1000.
  15. Richard Talbert. Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. p. 1000. ISBN 0-691-03169-X. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  16. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 1001
  17. Freely 2004, p. 270.
  18. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 999.
  19. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 1002.
  20. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 1003.
  21. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 1004
  22. Foss & Mitchell 2000, p. 1005.

References

  • Foss, Pedar W. "Lycia". Encyclopedia of the Roman Provinces (ERP). Archived from the original on 2012-02-26.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.