The Lycian civilization has proved, and continues to prove, a rich field to investigate for historians, archaeologists, numismatists and philologists alike. It is a civilization with many distinctive features, as illustrated by its abundant archaeological remains, particularly the impressive funerary architecture of many of its cities, its local customs and institutions, attested both in literary and epigraphic sources, by its numerous coin issues, amongst the most varied ever produced in Asia Minor, and its peculiar language which is only partly understood today.

In view of the advances that have been made in Lycian research and fieldwork within recent years, the time has come to gather information now available to us in a comprehensive examination of Lycian history and civilization. No such examination has in fact been undertaken since the publication of Treuber's Geschichte der Lykier in 1887. This book is the first of a planned two-volume account of the ancient culture.

In this account, a wide variety of subjects concerning the Lycian culture are examined: its Anatolian predecessors; the early Lycian and Greek literary tradition; the inscriptions in the Lycian language; the historical background; customs and institutions; gods and oracles; the Greco-Roman view of Lycia, and furthermore a large register of literary references, an extensive bibliography and an index of personal names are given.

This survey of Lycian culture constitutes a useful source of reference for scholars and students with a general interest in Lycia as well as for those more deeply immersed in Lycian studies.