Ancient Cities in Turkey
Xanthos, which was the capital of Lycia dating back to 3000s BC, is known to be the largest administrative center of Lycia during antiquity. Letoon, which was placed on the World Heritage List together with Xanthos in 1988, was one of the most prominent religious centres at ancient time.
Xanthos is where Sarpedon lived, who encouraged Prince Hector during the Trojan War by writing a poem to him. The site is on the road between Fethiye and Kaş, 46 km from Fethiye. It is part of present day Kınık Villagei on the Esen a stream separating the provinces of Muğla and Antalya.
The archaeological value of Xanthos and Letoon make them very important parts of global heritage. The sites are about 4 km apart and they include the stone inscriptions on which the longest and the most importnat scripts in Lycian language are written.
The original Lycian sarcophagi once situated just above the amphitheatre, and the original Harpy Tomb are in the British Museum.
Letoon; On the Fethiye-Kas highway, Letoon is originally founded in the name of Leto, mother to the Olympian divinities Apollo and Artemis.
