Xantos
People from xantos was tightly connected to each other and their cities
even to die for one another.
Heredot explains the sad and touching story of xantos proving their connection to
each other ;
People from xantos defended their city until the last breath they take
against relatively ten times more crowded Persian army however they did not
obey and surrendered . They burned every valuable goods in the city and nothing
left to be taken for the enemy. After destroying everything Folks from xantos
gathered everybody from babies to old , men to women and attacked persians to
die for. Everybody in the xantos was murdered however they never surrendered. Excavations made in the area revealed a deep layer of ashes .
The ones who were not in the xantos city during the battle saved and set
a new village to keep live their race.
Xantos was the capital of
lycian union in 2nd century B.C . During the roman period Brutus
had tried to invade xantos though as you can guess folks from xantos commited suicide not to
surrender. Brutus showed a great respect their loyalty to xantos and bravery
nevertheless it was too late to stop his bloody invasion in the site.
The other roman empires after Brutus , many helps and support given to
city by vespasianus , marcus antoninus. Rich lycian people also helped to city to be
rebuilt like a bath even today can be
visited built by licinius Langos. Xantos was deserted after the arap invasions until
the discovery by Ch. Fellows. He carried many important statues and remnants
from the city by ships to England. Today many monuments and remnans exhibited
in British museum.
How to get xantos ; site is located 55 km far from fethiye in the direction of Kas
district. Kinik village which is situated on the border of Antalya and mugla cities positioned just next to xantos site. Signs for xantos and
kinik village will help you to get there.