Xanthos & Letoon Ancient Cities Xanthos Ancient City Xanthos is a famous ancient city celebrated for its rich history and impressive ruins. According to Homer, the city’s origins date back to around 1200 BC, while other historical sources suggest it was founded between 1000 and 800 BC. Xanthos was distinguished among Lycian cities by its numerous monuments situated on the hillside near the Esen stream. As the capital of the Lycian League, it was one of the most significant cities and served as a major religious center. Excavations have uncovered many tombs and monuments, shedding light on the city’s fascinating past. Herodotus recounts that during the Persian occupation, the people of Xanthos chose to set their city ablaze rather than surrender to the Persian general Harpagos, leaving behind the ruins seen today. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great captured Xanthos. Following his death, the city came under the control of Ptolemaios in 309 BC, and later was ruled by Antiochus III of Syria. Xanthos, which served as the capital of Lycia in the 2nd century BC, came under Roman control in 42 BC. The majority of the existing structures from that era were built during the Roman Empire’s dominion. When the Byzantine Empire assumed power, the episcopal center of Xanthos gained greater prominence, leading to the construction of numerous new buildings. However, the city’s importance declined in the 8th and 9th centuries as a result of Arab invasions. Among the most remarkable artifacts in Anatolia is the Harpy Tomb, a notable tomb structure located in Lycia. This tomb features large rectangular columns that support the entire edifice, resting on simple pedestals with massive cover stones on top. It is believed to be the burial site of Kybernis, who died at the Battle of Salamis in 479 BC. The reliefs adorning the Harpy monument’s surface were removed by Charles Fellows in 1842 and are now exhibited in the British Museum. The Nereid Monument is considered the most renowned Lycian tomb and was probably built for Arbinas, the King of Lycia, and his family. This classical sculpture resembles a Greek temple and stands on a base decorated with sculpted friezes. It is called the Nereid Monument because of the twelve female figures depicted between the columns. This monument was created to commemorate a beloved daughter. Charles Fellows also transported the Nereid Monument to England, where it is currently displayed in the 17th hall of the British Museum. The theatre in Xanthos dates back to the Hellenistic Period and was later restored during the Roman era. It has a seating capacity of 2200 and remains an impressive architectural site. The stage building, a fine example of Roman design, includes entrances to the vault and the semicircular orchestra. To the north of the theatre lies the Roman Agora, an open plaza surrounded by porticos on all sides. Letoon Ancient City Letoon served not only as a site for national celebrations but also as a place where leaders publicly shared important religious and political proclamations in written form. One of the most remarkable aspects of Letoon is its stone inscriptions, which hold the longest and most important texts in the Lycian language. In 1973, the discovery of a trilingual inscription amazed historians of the ancient world. Alongside the temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo, and Artemis, visitors can also explore a monastery and the remains of a Roman Theater. The site includes three main temples: the Leto Temple, the Apollo Temple, and the Artemis Temple. The largest temple is the Leto Temple, built in the peripteros style on the western side, measuring 30.25 meters by 15.75 meters. On the eastern side, the Apollo Temple stands, constructed in the Doric style and resembling Lycian tomb architecture. Notably, its foundation ruins reveal a timber framework. Though smaller in size compared to the others, the Artemis Temple remains impressive, measuring 18.20 meters by 8.70 meters. In 1988, both Xanthos and Letoon were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply reach out to us on Whatsapp, and we will reply promptly.