Lycia

Lycia was a region of southern Asia Minor, east of Caria.

Several different tribes resided in Lycia; these included the Milyans or Solymi.

The Cretans, under the leadership of Sarpedon, son of Zeus and Europa, settled in the coastal area of Lycia, when his brother Minos drove him out of Crete, because of a youth named Miletus. The Cretan settlers were called Termilae. Sarpedon shared the rule of Lycia with another exiled prince from Athens named Lycus. Lycus was the brother of Aegeus, and the whole region was renamed to Lycia.

The Corinthian hero named Bellerophon arrived from Argos, and became a guest of Iobates, king of Lycia. Bellerophon fought successful wars against the Solymi and Amazons. Impressed by the young man's prowess, Iobates married his daughter Philonoë to the great hero.

Bellerophon became the father of Isander, Hippolochus, Laodameia and Deïdameia. Sarpedon's son Evander married Deïdameia, and became father of another Sarpedon, while Hippolochus was the father of Glaucus. Glaucus and Sarpedon distinguished themselves during the Trojan War. Both leaders died at Troy.

See the family tree of the Aeolids in Lycia.