Ancient Galatia is an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey.

Galatia is named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace (cf.

Tylis), who settle here and become its ruling caste in the 3rd century BCE, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BCE.

It has been called the "Gallia" of the East, Roman writers calling its inhabitants Galli (Gaul or Celt).

The Galateans themselves are not literate, and their name for themselves remains unknown.