Back to mapXanthos

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Xanthus is located just north of the modern town of Kinik on the main Fethiye/Kas road (400). The site is well sign posted and there is a visitor car park and small shop. This shop besides offering drinks has an ample supply of guide books. There is no official guide to the site, one just pays the entrance fee and is then free to wander. The site is bisected by a north/south road from the main road and to the town of Kinik so the site can be visited from either direction.

the other (to the west) where the important much publicised tombs and monuments are situated. These are the Obelisk, the Harpy tomb, theatre and the Gate of Vespasian. The sculptured features on the Harpy tomb are copies, the originals are in the British Museum. There are other remains of buildings overlooking the town of Kinik. To the east the remains are mainly of Greek or Roman origin and are currently being excavated. It is in this side, near the road that the Nereid monument once stood. However this too can now be seen restored in the British Museum! To the north on the hill are the remains of the city wall and the necropolis where there are many individual tombs worthy of inspection.

Xanthus has had a varied history. It was always the most important city in the Lycian Federation and as such was the centre of opposition to invading forces from the time of the Persians to the Romans. On one occasion the residents of the city killed themselves rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. Some citizens did survive as they had moved up into the hills with their flocks during the summer. For a better account of Xanthus see George E. Bean – Lycian Turkey and Enid Slatter – Xanthus, Travels of Discovery in Turkey amongst others.