CARU´RA(Τὰ Καρουρά), a town which was on the north-eastern limit of Caria (Strab. p. 663); its position east of the range of Cadmus assigns it to Phrygia, under which country Strabo describes it. It was on the south side of the Maeander, 20 M. P. west of Laodiceia, according to the Table, and on the great road along the valley of the Maeander from Laodiceia to Ephesus. The place is identified by the hot springs, about 12 miles NW. of Denizli, which have been described by Pococke and Chandler. Strabo (p. 578) observes that Carura contained many inns (πανδοχεῖα), which is explained by the fact of its being on a line of great traffic, by which the wool and other products of the interior were taken down to the coast. He adds that it has hot springs, some in the Maeander, and some on the banks of the river. All this tract is subject to earthquakes; and there was a story, reported by Strabo, that as a brothel keeper was lodging in the inns with a great number of his women, they were all swallowed up one night by the earth opening. Chandler (Asia Minor, 100.65) observed on the spot a jet of hot water, which sprung up several inches from the ground; and also the remains of an ancient bridge over the river. On the road between Carura and Laodiceia was the temple of Men Carus, a Carian deity; and in the time of Strabo there was a noted school of medicine here, under the presidency of Zeuxis. This school was of the sect of Herophilus. (Strab. p. 580.) Chandler discovered some remains on the road to Laodiceia, which, he supposes, may be the traces of this temple; but he states nothing that confirms the conjecture.
Herodotus (Hdt. 7.30) mentions a place called Cydrara, to which Xerxes came on his road from Colossae to Sardes. It was the limit of Lydia and Phrygia, and King Croesus fixed a stele there with an inscription on it, which declared the boundary. Leake (Asia Minor, &100. p. 251) thinks that the Cydrara of Herodotus may be Carura. It could not be far off; but the boundary between Lydia and Phrygia would perhaps not be placed south of the Maeander in these parts.
[G.L]