The name of the ancient city of Arykanda, located 30 kilometers north of the district center of Finike and 140 kilometers southwest of the city center of Antalya, means Ary-ka-wanda, "the place next to the high rock" in the Lycian language. The fact that the city's name philologically reflects the native Anatolian language indicates that Arykanda is one of the oldest cities in the region. Based on finds other than a stone axe dating to 2,000 BC, it isn't easy to date the city before the fifth century BC.

In the second century BC, Arykanda appears to have minted coins as a city in the Lycian League. In 43 AD, when Emperor Klaudius ended the Lycian League, the town was made a province with the Lycian Region, Pamphylia, and was annexed to Rome. Partially restored after the great earthquake in 240 AD, the city was called Akalanda or Orykanda during Byzantine rule.