Solymi

Solymi was an ancient people who inhabited the region of Pisidia in southwestern Asia Minor, roughly corresponding to modern-day Turkey. Their name is primarily known from Greek and Roman sources, where they are often mentioned in connection with Lycia and Pamphylia. The geographer Strabo, writing in the 1st century BCE, describes the Solymi as a warlike tribe who had historically resisted assimilation by neighboring powers.

The exact origins and linguistic affiliations of the Solymi are not definitively known. Some ancient texts suggest a connection to the Semitic peoples of the Levant, while others link them to Anatolian groups. Their territory was mountainous and difficult to traverse, which likely contributed to their independent spirit. The Solymi were known for their settlements, often fortified, in the rugged interior of Pisidia.

In later periods, the Solymi appear to have been gradually incorporated into the broader cultural and political landscape of the region. Their distinct identity likely diminished over time as they interacted with and were influenced by the Lydians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans who successively controlled Asia Minor. The name Solymi occasionally appears in historical records as a geographical or ethnic descriptor, but their specific history beyond their more prominent mentions in classical antiquity is sparse.