Anatolia

Anatolia (Turkish: Anadolu from Greek: Ανατολία - Anatolía) is a peninsula of Western Asia which forms the greater part of the Asian portion of Turkey, as opposed to its European portion (Thrace, or traditionally Rumelia). It is also often called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, which comes from the Greek Mikrá Asía (Μικρά Ασία).

The name comes from the Greek Aνατολή (Αnatolḗ) or Ανατολία (Anatolía), which means "east". The Byzantine theme of "Anatolikon" ("eastern one") signified the lands to the east of Europe and Constantinople. The Turkish form Anadolu derives from the Greek version; Turkish folk etymology breaks down the geographical term into two words, "mother" and "full" Thus, Ana, dolu 'Mother, it is full' or 'Full of mothers'.