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 MinorBook 5, Chapter 2. and specifically Lycia.Book 5, Chapter 3. Strabo's Geography has a section on Lycia as well, Also as does Pliny's Natural History. Stephanus of Byzantium includes a large number of Lycian places in Ethnica. Hierocles in Synecdemus lists the cities in the eparchy of Lycia. 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.. In addition, numerous inscriptions in the Lycian language state some place names in their Lycian forms.This article relies heavily for its Lycian names on . Bryce in turn was influenced by 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. The topographical information comes from the Aydın thesis, and was developed from Turkish military maps.
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.. 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 as an English ⟨g⟩ ( or ). When between vowels, it acts as a glide, facilitating vowel sequences, and otherwise it lengthens the preceding vowel. For example, () is pronounced . ⟨Ç⟩ or ⟨ç⟩ is as in "child" (); ⟨Ş⟩ or ⟨ş⟩ is as in "shore" (). ⟨C⟩ or ⟨c⟩ is actually as in "John" (), while the ⟨J⟩ or ⟨J⟩ is pronounced as the ⟨z⟩ in "azure" () and the ⟨s⟩ in "treasure" (). 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., the plural of is ().
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A English classical name Inscriptional name Description SourcesAcalessus Greek Akalessos Stephanus, Hierocles, who has Akalisos.Acarassus Greek Akarassos StephanusAedesa River Turkish Ak Çay.Pliny the ElderAgathe Island Greek Agathe. StephanusAlimala Greek Alimala StephanusAlina Island Greek Alina. Stephanus, an island belonging to Crya.Amelas Pliny the Elder Andriaca , Greek Andriake, from Tugluc, elevation 0. Ptolemy, Pliny.Anticragus Mountain Greek Antikragos, Turkish Buba Dağ. Strabo. Antiphellus Greek Antiphellos, Turkish Kaş. Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, who says it was formerly Habessus, Stephanus, Hierocles. Aperlae Apr and prl , elevation . Greek Aperlai, a former port of Lycia, Turkish Siçak Iskelesi, the docks on Aperlai Bay, from Kiliçli. Lycian name from coins. Listed in Ptolemy as Aperroe, in Pliny as Aperræ. Hierocles has Aperlai.Apollonia Island Greek Apollonia, Turkish Sıçak. StephanusAptera 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 StephanusArna See XanthusArneae Greek Arneiai. Stephanus, who calls it a "small city" and says that Homer called it Orneiai.Arsinoe Greek Arsinoe StephanusArtymnesus Greek Artumnesos Stephanus Arycanda Arykawanda Greek Arukanda, located at Aykiriçay in Antalya Province.Stephanus, Hierocles.Arycandus River Greek Arukandos, Turkish Karasu Çay. Pliny, who says it is a tributary of the Xanthus.AscandalisAscandiandalis Pliny the ElderPlinyAspalathis Island Greek Aspalathis StephanusAspis Island Greek Aspis StephanusAulae Greek Aulai Stephanus
B English classical name Inscriptional name Description Sources Balbura Greek Balboura, Turkish Çölkayaği. or Çölkayiği Ptolemy, Pliny, StephanusBalura Greek Baloura. Hierocles Bubon Greek Boubon, Turkish Ibecik. 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 StephanusCalbius Spring Greek Kalbios Krene.Stephanus says that some say it is Kalainon.Callatebus Greek Kallatebos Stephanus Calinda Greek Kalunda, Turkish Kozpınar.. Listed in Ptolemy in coastal LyciaCanas 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 townCarbana Greek Karbana StephanusCarmylessus adjacent to Kaya Strabo says it is a settlement on a ravine of Anticragus Mountain. Carya Listed by Ptolemy as a coastal townCarysis 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. Strabo says there are three off the promontory, one with a landing for vessels. Chelidonia Promontory Greek Hiera Akra, "Sacred promontory," Turkish Gelidonya Burnu. Ptolemy, who calls it cliffs, and Strabo, who says the continuous chain of the Taurus Mountains start here.Cherrhonesus Promontory Greek Cherrhonesos Akra StephanusChimaera Ravine Avlan valley. Strabo says it is a ravine "extending up from the shore."Chimaera Mountain Turkish Yanartaş. 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. 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 StraboClimax Mountain Greek Klimaks StraboCochliousa Island Greek Kochliousa Stephanus Comba Greek Kombe Ptolemy, Hierocles has Kombe.Comistaraus Greek Komistaraos. HieroclesCorycus Greek Korukos Described by Strabo as a stretch of coast. Corydalla , Greek Korudalla, from Kumluca. Elevation , 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. Pliny, Ptolemy, Strabo, who says it has eight promontories.Cragus Greek Kragos.Strabo mentions a city of the same name as the mountain.Crambusa StraboCrya Greek Krua StephanusCyaneae , elevation , Greek Kuaneai, from Turkish Yavı. 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.. A coastal town in Ptolemy, under Rhodes in Strabo and Stephanus, who says it was named after Dedalus. Daedala Mountain Kizildağ. A mountain within Lycia on the western border, in Strabo, Stephanus.Daphne StephanusDias Stephanus Dolchiste island Greek Dolchiste, Turkish Kekova. 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 SourcesEdebessus Greek Edebessos StephanusElaiou Teichos StephanusElebesus Greek Elebesos. HieroclesEleutherai StephanusEreuates StephanusEudocia Greek Eudokia Hierocles
G English classical name Inscriptional name Description Sources Gagae , elevation . 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 demos Stephanus says it was named after the hero, Glaucus.
H English classical name Inscriptional name Description Sources-Henoanda Greek Henoanda. HieroclesHiera See Chelidonia PromontoryHephæstium City located by Pliny below Chimaera MountainHippou Kome Turkish İtasar. StephanusHoauapus Greek Hoauapos. HieroclesHylami Greek Hulamoi. StephanusHytenna Greek Hutenna Stephanus
I English classical name Inscriptional name Description SourcesIlaris Stephanus Isinda Isñta Located at Belenli, or, at another period, Alaettin Mahalle, Korkuteli. Strabo
L English classical name Inscriptional name Description SourcesLamyra Greek Lamura StephanusLamyrus River Greek Lamuros Stephanus Limyra Zẽmuri Greek Limura, a coastal city Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus, Hierocles. Limyrus river The Alakır Çay. 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 SourcesMacra Island Greek Makra, Turkish Meğri Ada. 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. Ptolemy lists without coordinates, Pliny has Masycites.Megale Island Greek Megale. StephanusMegiste Ancient Greek Megiste, modern Greek Kastellorizon. 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 StephanusMelanippion Greek Melanippion, on Turkish Karaöz Limanı. StephanusMenedemion StephanusMeroe StephanusMilias 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 HieroclesMolyndeia Molundeia Stephanus Myra , elevation , Greek Mura, from Sumeli in Demre. Strabo, Pliny, Stephanus. Hierocles has Myra Metropolis.
N English classical name Inscriptional name Description Sources Nisa Ptolemy Noscopium Pliny the Elder
O English classical name Inscriptional name Description Sources Octapolis Listed in Ptolemy Oenoanda Hieroglyphic Luwian Wiyanawanda Turkish İncealiler. Ptolemy, Stephanus, Pliny as Oenianda Olympus Turkish Deliktaş.. Also called Hadrianopolis. Listed by Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny.Olympus, Mountain Tahtalı Dağ. Strabo, who says it is also called Phoenicus.
P