Map of Asia Minor highlighting Lycia. Author: Caliniuc. Licensed (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)
Map of Asia Minor in Greco-Roman period, highlighting Lycia.
Author: Caliniuc. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED (image cropped).

What is…
Lycia

Greek: Λυκία —transliteration: Lukia —occurrences: 1 (Acts 77:5) —derivation: possibly λύκος lukos meaning a wolf or perhaps a jackal

This is an ancient wealthy province in modern Turkey, opposite the island of Rhodes. It bordered the Mediterranean Sea in what is today the Turkish provinces of Antalya and Muğla (Mugla) as well some inland parts of its Burdur Province.

The people of this region are called Lycians (Greek: Λύκιοι. Some of their most important false gods were Apollo and Zeus and the goddesses Leto and Artemis.

It had become a province of the Roman Empire when the Apostle Paul visited it (Acts 21:1; 27:5).

Lycia was once part of the Persian Empire (aka Achaemenid Empire).

Notable cities

Lycia had many cities. Two of them are mentioned in Scripture, Patara and Myra.

And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. —Acts 21:1-2 KJV

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. —Acts 27:5 KJV

Map of Lycia
Map of ancient Lycia with Patara and Myra circled. Adapted from source: Cattette. License: CC BY 4.0

Other notable Lycian cities include Olympos, Phaselis, Pinara, Tlos and Xanthos (another ancient capital of Lycia).

Archaeologists have found numerous ruins and artifacts of ancient Lycia. Many relics are on display at London’s British Museum. Tourists in Turkey visit many of the region’s visible ruins.

Other cities

More information

Article Version: January 6, 2025