Photos of the Xanthos Lycian Archaeology Site & Tombs

Home  /  Classical Antiquity Photos /  Lycian Art & Sites

Photos of the Xanthos Lycian Archaeology Site & Tombs, Xanthos Valley, Turkey. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

How To Download These Photos ?

Photos of the Xanthos Lycian Archaeology Site & Tombs

---

Photos of the Lycian city of Xanthos (Lycian: Arñna, Latin: Xanthus, Turkish: Ksantos), Archaeological Site, Antalya, Turkey.

Xanthos was an important centre of Lycian culture and commerce for the Lycians, then for the Persians, Greeks and finally the Romans.

History of Xanthos

In approximately 540 BC, according to Herodotus, the Persians met and defeated a small Lycian army in the flatlands to the north of the city. The Lycians retreated back Xanthos which was besieged by Harpagus. Knowing they could not hold out against the Persians the Lycian men destroyed the Acropolis to save their Gods from Persian desecration. They then killed their wives, children, and slaves and proceeded on a suicidal attack against the superior Persian troops.

The entire population of Xanthos perished except for 80 families who were absent during the fighting.

The Xanthos Stele

The Xanthian Obelisk, also known as the Xanthos Stele, is column carved with with a script in 3 languages, Greek, Lycian A, and Lycian B. For this reason it is also known as the Xanthoos bilingual. The pillar is seemingly a funerary marker of a dynastic satrap of Achaemenid Lycia. It is possible it was once topped by a tomb.

Lycian Xanthos Harpy Tomb

The Lycian Harpy Tomb is a marble pillar tomb from 480-470 B.C. The Greek Archaic style carvings of four winged female figures of Harpies that covered the tomb were removed by Charles Fellows in 1838. They are now in the British Museum as is the Xanthos Letoon.

The is the sculptured 4th cent. B.C Monument tomb of Arbina, a Xanthian client ruler of Xanthos for the Persians.

Xanthos was made a UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Site in 1988.