Oktapolis in western Lycia

OCTAPOLIS IN WESTERN LYCIA Octapolis, which is located in the inner part of the Gulf of Fethiye in north-west Lycia bordering Caria, is recorded sometimes as the name of a region, sometimes as a political community of cities, and sometimes as a settlement, in the epigraphic and literary sources. In the 2nd or 1st centuries B.C. an urban organisation was formed between settlements in the vicinity which is recorded in Hippoukome's bath inscription. On the other hand, it was thought that Octapolis, which is recorded amongst the cities in the vicinity of Mount Kragos by Ptolemaios, could have been a politicial community of cities formed by eight settlements known from the two inscriptions from Kızılkaya. Thus, the idea that this community of cities centered in Kızılkaya, was formed of the settlements mentioned in Hippoukome's bath inscription, has arisen. However, it was also thought that Octapolis might be the name of a region, due to the form of its name on the Monumentum Patarensis. In addition, the fact that Octapolis has an ethnicon in epigraphic sources creates the idea that it may have been the name of a city at a certain period. In which periods and according to which sources is Octapolis to be identified as either, a region, or a community of settlements, or a settlement, or polis? What does its name indicate? In this study, through examining the epigraphic and literary sources, an attempt is made to answer these question.