Geography of the Western Fringes: Gar(a)giša/Gargiya and the Lands of Late Bronze Age Caria

The paper offers a revision of some problematic points concerning the historical geography of western Anatolia around 1400-1250 BC as reflected in Hittite texts. The first part (§§1-4) puts forward linguistic and historical arguments against the common association of Gar(a)giša/ Gargiya with Caria, arguing instead for a location in the central Troad and possible connection with Gergithes, also touching upon the question of composition and extent of the so-called ‘Assuwa coalition’. The second part (§§5-6) discusses the historical geography of the LBA Caria, revising some old and offering new identifications of toponyms. In particular, it is argued that Waliwanda cannot be equated with Alabanda (instead= Polybotos); that the toponymic cluster Attarima, Hu(wa)rsanassa, Suruda and Ama[...] is connected with the Carian Chersonesos; that Mudamudassa is possibly identical with Medmasos (rather than Mylasa) and Ura with Uranion. As a conclusion, the questions of the original extent of Arzawa and the chronology of the Hittite involvement in western Anatolia are addressed