Cultural
Xanthos-Letoon
Photo : Alexander Buschorn (1990) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Located in southwestern Turkey in the Lycia region, this archaeological site comprises two interconnected ancient sanctuaries that served as important religious and political centers in antiquity. Xanthos functioned as the principal city of Lycia and features monumental tombs, including distinctive rock-cut structures and pillar tombs that reflect local architectural traditions. Letoon, situated nearby, was dedicated to the goddess Leto and contains temples and religious structures that demonstrate Hellenistic and Roman construction techniques. The site preserves substantial remains of buildings, sculptures, and inscriptions that document the cultural evolution of Lycia from the Classical period through the Byzantine era. The combination of architectural remains, artistic elements, and epigraphic evidence provides significant testimony to the interaction between Mediterranean civilizations and local Anatolian cultures. The UNESCO inscription recognizes the outstanding universal value of these ruins in illustrating the development of urban and religious organization in ancient Lycia.
