Xanthos
was the capital city of the Lycian Federation and its greatest city for most
of Lycian history. It was made famous to the Western world in the 19th century
by its British discoverer Charles Fellows. Xanthos is of great antiquity - finds
date back to the 8th century B.C. but it is possible that the site may have
existed during the Bronze Age or during the Iron Age.
Xanthos stands up atop an elevated area within Xanthos Valley with the Xanthos
River flowing closely under the city's west side.
From this elevation one receives a supreme view of the valley surrounded by
the spectacular Taurus mountains.
LETOON
Letoon was the sacred cult center of Lycia and its most important sanctuary
dedicated to the three national deities of Lycia - Leto and her twin children
, Apollo and Artemis. Letoon was a shrine and not actually a city, though it
did have a settlement surrounding it.
This was the spiritual heart of Lycia, its federal sanctuary and the place of
national festivals. The features of Letoon include the remains of three temples,
dedicated to one of Leto and her twins Artemis and Apollo, an agora, a nymphaeum
and an amphitheatre.
The
ancient Lycian site of Xanthos lies a few kilometres south of Letoon, close
to the village of Kinik.
On the road from Fethiye to Kalkan there is a sign post - a track leads off
left up to the ruins.
