Xanthos
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Xanthos and where is it?
These are the ruins of the largest city of ancient Lycia in the south of Turkey, in the province of Antalya. The Lycians called him Arna, and the familiar Greek name came later.
Why is Xanthos worth paying attention to?
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1988, together with the Letoon Sanctuary). Grave monuments and tombs in the form of houses have been preserved here - one of the best examples of Lycian-Ionian culture.
What exactly can be seen here?
The most famous are the Harpy Monument (6th century BC) and the Nereid Monument, decorated as an Ionic temple. And here is the largest known monument of Lycian writing - a stele with inscriptions.
Is this city really old?
Very. It was founded in the 1st millennium BC, and in 546 BC the Persians razed him to the ground - and this is only the first of several of his deaths. The stones here survived the Persians, Alexander the Great and the Romans.
