Kandyba, also known as Candyba, is an ancient Lycian settlement situated within the boundaries of Çataloluk Village in the Kaş district of Antalya province. This archaeological site is set on a hilltop high above the plain of Kasaba, positioned 13 kilometres north of Kaş. The modern village of Çataloluk is located immediately to the south of the ancient ruins.
Various etymological and mythological traditions surround the origin of the name Kandyba. The name is believed to originate from the Luwian or Lycian languages, interpreted as meaning 'the man of the Mother Goddess' or 'belonging to the Supreme God'. In the Lycian language, the settlement was known as Xãkbi, while the Greek version became Kandyba and the Latin form Candyba. Stephanus of Byzantium reports a mythological tradition stating that the city derived its name from Candybus, son of Deucalion. Furthermore, during the Bronze Age, the city may have been known to the Hittites as Hinduwa.
Throughout antiquity, Candyba remained one of the smaller cities of Lycia, yet it maintained an important political status. It functioned as an independent polis with voting rights in the Lycian League and minted its own coins. A coin procured on the spot from the local peasantry featuring the letters KAND provides tangible evidence of this civic autonomy.
During the Roman period, when the settlement fell within the Roman province of Lycia, the bishopric of Candyba served as a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Myra, the capital of the province. Extant historical records preserve the names of two bishops associated with the diocese. Constantinus took part in the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, and Basilius attended the Photian Council of Constantinople in 879.
No longer functioning as a residential bishopric, Candyba is recognized today by the Catholic Church as a titular see.
Archaeological investigations at the site reveal notable architectural features, particularly the rock tombs. Some of these rock tombs are beautifully executed with fine craftsmanship. In addition to the tombs, a perfect inscription carved in Lycian characters was discovered within the ancient area.
Today, visitors who travel to the ancient site of Kandyba encounter a secluded hilltop settlement overlooking the Kasaba plain. Positioned north of Kaş and adjacent to the modern village of Çataloluk, the ruins offer a glimpse into Lycian history through surviving rock-cut tombs, defensive traces, and the surrounding Mediterranean landscape.
Wikimedia research dossier · Last checked: 2026-09-12 22:13:42
