Ca'ria. The southern part of the region which, in the New Testament, is called Asia,
and the southwestern part of the peninsula of Asia Minor. Act_20:15; Act_27:7.
Source: Smith’s
Bible Dictionary
Caria
kā´ri-a (Καρία,
Karía): A country in the Southwest of Asia Minor which extended on
the North to Lydia, on the East to Phrygia, on the South to Lycia, and the West
to the Aegean Sea. Its borders, however, like those of most of the ancient
countries of Asia Minor, were never definitely fixed; hence, the difficulty
presented by the study of the political divisions. The general surface of the
country is rugged, consisting of mountainous ridges running across it, and
terminating as promontories jutting into the sea. Its history consists chiefly
of that of its practically independent cities of which Miletus (Act_20:15-20) and Cnidus (Act_27:7) are the chief. For some time previous
to 168 bc it had lost its independence, and belonged to the island of Rhodes,
but in that year Rome made it again free. According to 1 Macc 15:23, Caria was
one of several places to which the Roman senate in 139-138 bc sent letters in
favor of the Jews, a fact showing that its population was mixed. Its coast
cities, however, were peopled chiefly by Greeks. In 129 bc Caria became a part
of the Roman province of Asia, and from that date its history coincides with
that of the province. Though Paul and others of the apostles traversed Caria in
their missionary journeys, only its cities are mentioned by name in that
connection.
Source:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia