HOW TO GET XANTHOS ANCIENT CITY WHERE IS IT?

The ancient city of Xanthos is located in the town of Kınık, which is 46 km from Fethiye on the Fethiye and Kaş highway. The Xanthos River, with its current name, was established on the plain on the edge of the Eşen Stream, dominating two hills. The Lycian Acropolis is located on the edge of the Eşen Stream and is surrounded by a wall rising in the form of a rock. The other is the higher and wider Roman Acropolis on the north side. Xanthos is the administrative center of the Lycian union. In the inscriptions written in Lycian language, the name of this city is mentioned as Arnna.

According to Homer’s account, the city was under the rule of Sarpedon. Apart from this, Homer also tells that the Xanthosians participated in the Trojan War. According to the studies carried out in the excavations, the settlement of the city dates back to BC. It does not go beyond the 8th century.

Xanthos Ancient City History

Xanthos ancient city  BC. Between 545 and 546, it was besieged by the Persian Commander Harpagos. Xanthosians heroically defend their city against this siege. But when they realize that they will be renewed, they kill the women and children in the city and set the city on fire. Thus, they left a ruined and ruined city to Harpagos.

The city faced fire disasters between 475 and 450 BC. B.C. In 334, Alexander the Great took the ancient city of Xanthos. After Alexander the Great died, Xanthos BC. From 309 onwards, the Egyptian dynasty came under the rule of the Ptolemies. Later, as in the city of Lycia, the Syrian King Antiochus III captured the city.

The city of Xanthos became the capital of the Lycian union in the 2nd century BC. In 42 BC, the Roman Brutus destroyed the city. Later, Emperor Mark Antony had the city rebuilt. A plug was built for Emperor Vespasianus in the city of Xanthos, which was under the rule of Rome in the 1st century AD. Most of the Roman structures that have survived to the present day were built during this period. When Xanthos was under Byzantine rule, it was used as the Episcopal center and new buildings were built in this period. After the 7th century, the city began to lose its importance due to Arab raids. In 1938, Charles Fellows discovered it and took some of the remains to London.

Xanthos Ancient City

The acropolis of Xanthos city is surrounded by walls with different knitting systems. Roman Period Theater is located in the north of the Lycian acropolis. The most interesting ruins in the city of Xanthos are to the west of the theatre. These;

• Family of the dead found on a high monolith
• Creatures with female bodies and bird wings found next to her dead family
• Harpy reliefs believed to carry the souls of the dead to the sky
• harpy monument
• Lycian Sarcophagus
• Roman Age Agora

Dazzling City Xanthos

The Lycian Ancient City, also known as Xanthos,   was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 together with the Letoon Ancient City . The city of Xanthos is among the dazzling treasures of our Anatolia.

It is possible to go to the ancient city of Xanthos by car. You can park your car in the large area in the middle. Afterwards, you can start to visit the ancient city of Xanthos by making your payment. In order to visit this ancient city, you have to go in two different directions. First of all, you have to go to the left side of the box office. This area on the left is the area where the necropolis and usilica of the city of Xanthos are located. If you keep walking on the left side, you reach the necropolis. For this, it will be enough to walk 430 meters. The road to the necropolis is covered with narrow paths and bushes. For this reason, you may have some difficulty walking.

On the right is the basilia. Only a few walls remain from the basilica. The Xanthosians were famous for being a warrior nation. Xanthos has many tragic stories.

When you go to the other side of the city of Xanthos  , the agora and the theater will welcome you. At the back of the theater is the acropolis. If you want to see the acropolis, you have to walk to the back of the theatre.