Caria

Caria was a country of Asia Minor, situated south of Ionia, west of Phrygia Major and Lycia. It was originally colonised by various peoples from Greece.

It was originally called Phœnecia, because a Phœnecian colony first settled there. Afterwards it received the name of Caria from Car, one of their kings.

The most important town was Halicarnassus, where its sovereigns reigned. Other major towns were Heraclea, Antioch, Myndus, Laodicea and Alabanda. Halicarnassus was the location of the famed Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and from which the current term for interment buildings comes .

It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 BC.

Lempriere notes that, "As Caria probably abounded in figs, a particular sort has been called Carica, and the words In Care periculum facere, having been proverbially used to signify the encountering of danger in the pursuit of a thing of trifling value."

See Also: Melankomas of Caria - Ancient Olympic Boxer.