Kibyra was located at a cultural crossroads in ancient Anatolia and controlled important trade routes. While the meaning of its name "Kibyra" is unclear, it likely originated from the Luwian language spoken in western Anatolia. According to the geographer Strabo, the Kibyrians originally lived in Lydia but later migrated and founded the city of Kibyra in the 2nd century BC. Under Roman rule, Kibyra was an important political and economic center, with a vibrant workshop and trading industry, until it was damaged by an earthquake in the 1st century AD.