The Lukka lands (sometimes Luqqa lands), were a historical region in southwestern Anatolia during the Late Bronze Age. They are known from Hittite and Egyptian texts, who viewed them as hostile. It is commonly accepted that the Bronze Age toponym Lukka is cognate with the Lycia of classical antiquity.

Location

Lukka was located in southwestern Anatolia. However, its exact extent is a matter of debate. Trevor Bryce has argued that the Lukka lands covered a large area including the regions later known as Lycaonia, Pisidia and Lycia.^[1] Other researchers such as Ilya Yakubovich have argued that Lukka was limited to Lycia.^[2]

History

Soldiers from the Lukka lands fought on the Hittite side in the famous Battle of Kadesh (c. 1274 BC) against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II. A century later, the Lukka had turned against the Hittites. The Hittite king Suppiluliuma II tried in vain to defeat the Lukka. They contributed to the collapse of the Hittite Empire.^{[citation needed]}

The Lukka are also known from texts in Ancient Egypt as one of the tribes of the Sea Peoples, who invaded Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean in the 12th century BC.^[3]