Un “triangolo rivale” tra il Meandro e il Lykos: Laodikeia, Hierapolis, Tripolis tra epoca ellenistica e Tarda Antichità, I. Dall’epoca arcaica ad Alessandro Magno (VI-IV sec.).

This paper examines the available sources concerning the history and geography of the Lykos Valley (Western Asia Minor, Turkey) between the 6th and the 4th cent. B.C. and focuses on the archaic settlements which preceded the Hellenistic cities of Apollonia (Tripolis) on the Maeander, Hierapolis of Phrygia and Laodikeia on the Lykos. Literary texts (Herodotus, Xenophon, Strabo, Stephanus of Byzantium) are analysed along with some epigraphical and numismatic sources; the most recent findings by the Turkish and Italian Archaeological Missions (Laodikeia, Hierapolis, Tripolis) are also taken in account. Some topographical issues (borders and roads between Phrygia, Lydia and Caria; cities of Kydrara and Hydrela) are discussed as well.