Arzawa in the second half of the 2nd millennium BCE (roughly from late 15th century BCE until the beginning of the 12th century BCE) was the name of a region and a political entity (a "
kingdom" or a
federation of local powers) in Western
Anatolia. The core of Arzawa is believed to have been located along the
Kestros River (
Küçük Menderes), with its capital at Apasa, later known as
Ephesus. When the
Hittites conquered Arzawa it was divided into three Hittite provinces: a southern province called Mira along the
Maeander River, which would later become known as
Caria; a northern province called the Seha River Land, along the
Gediz River, which would later become known as
Lydia; and an eastern province called Hapalla.