In antiquity, Cilicia (/sɪˈlɪʃiə/) or less often Kilikia (Armenian:Կիլիկիա; Greek:Κιλικία; Middle Persian: Klikiyā, Parthian: Kilikiyā, Turkish:Kilikya), was the south coastal region of Asia Minor. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and Byzantine Empire. Cilicia extends inland from the southeastern coast of modern Turkey, due north and northeast of the island of Cyprus. Cilicia corresponds to the modern region of Çukurova in Turkey.