Lycians

Origins and History

The Lycians were an ancient collective name for the inhabitants of the Lycia landscape in southwest Asia Minor in antiquity. They are mentioned several times in Homer's Iliad, where they fought on the Trojan side under the leadership of the heroes Sarpedon and Glaukos.

### Origin of the Lycians

According to Herodotus, the Lycians originally came from Crete, where they were known as the Termils (Τερμίλαι). They received their name through the Athenian Lykos, the son of Pandion. The Lycians had part Cretan and part Carian customs, and it is reported that they landed in Asia Minor in the wake of their prince Sarpedon, who was driven out of Crete by his brother Minos.

### Conquest of Lycia

The conquest of Lycia by Sarpedon, brother of Minos and Rhadamanthys, is confirmed by Diodorus (v,79). The Lycians had a strong presence in the region since the 2nd millennium BC, as evidenced by their mention in Egyptian, Ugaritic, and Ittis sources.

### Relations with Other Civilizations

The Lycians were allies and tributaries of the Hittite Empire. They also had a significant Greek influence due to the numerous Greek colonies along the coast of Lycia. The Lycians were known for their pirating activities, which they used as a means of sustenance due to the poorly productive nature of their territory.

### Cultural Significance

The Lycians are remembered in various ancient sources, including the Iliad and the Eneid. They played an important role in the Trojan War, with Sarpedon falling during the battle. After the fall of Troy, the Lycians aggregated to Aeneas, as mentioned in the Eneid.

Demographics

The Lycians were an Indo-European people of the Anatolian group, allocated in Anatolia since the 2nd millennium BC. They had a fleet and were known for their pirating activities, which they used to sustain themselves due to the poor productivity of their territory.