CARIA (anc. geog.), a country of the Hither Asia; whose limits are extended by some, while they are contracted by others. Melas, Pliny, extend the maritime Caria from Iasus and Halicarnassus, to Calvnda, and the borders of Lycia. The inland Caria Ptolemy extends to the Meander and beyond. Car, Cariates, Cariotis, Cariissa, and Caris, and Cabra, are the gentilicious names; Carius and Cariensis the epithets. In Care periculum, was a proverbial saying on a thing exposed to danger, but of no great value. The Cares being the Swifs of those days, were hired and placed in the front of the battle, (Cicero.) Cum Care Cariissa, denoted the behaviour of clowns. The Cares came originally from the islands to the continent, being formerly subject to Minos, and called Leleges: this the Cretans affirm, and the Cares deny, making themselves aborigines. They are of a common original with the Myri and Lydi, having a common temple, of a very ancient standing, at Melassa, a town of Caria, called Jovis Carii Delubrum, (Herodotus.) Homer calls the Carians, barbarians in language.