This album contains all our galleries which are not for our talks
Lykia - Xanthos and Letoon
Xanthos. The Vespasian Gate.
Site of the Xanthos Nereid Monument, a free-standing temple tomb removed to the British Museum
Xanthos Nereid Monument reassembled in the British Museum. The Nereids were the daughters of Poseidon. This is afree-standing temple tomb built during the Persian domination but obviously in the Greek style. While there are friezes of soldiers, the Lykians liked a good party after death and there are feasting scenes.
Theatre at Xanthos. This is on the oldest part of the site and it has been remodelled from a hellenistic theatre into a roman arena with a barrier in front of the seats
Xanthos. Lykian sarcophagus standing on a pillar by the theatre, and the 'Harpy' pillar tomb
Xanthos. The frieze of the Harpy tomb on site is a reproduction
Xanthos. The original Harpy frieze is in the British Museum. A king seated. At each end, winged harpies carry the souls of the dead
Xanthos. Agora and opposite the theatre, the Yazıtlı (with-writing) pillar. Probably also a pillar tomb originally, it carries an extensive inscription in the Lykian language
Xanthos. Details of the Lykian inscription. Lykian was only written briefly between 500 and 350BCE. Like those of greek, latin and other languages geographically, the alphabet is derived from Phoenician
Xanthos was inhabited for about a thousand years. Roughly from 500 BCE to 500 CE, covering persian, hellenistic and roman periods. This is the christian basilica church
Xanthos. A free-standing Lykian sarcophagus tomb on a plinth
A pillar tomb above a collection of house tombs. Xanthos probably has the largest variety of Lykian tomb styles anywhere. House, free-standing house, sarcophagus, sarcophagus on plinth, pillar, temple and free-standing temple.
Xanthos. Base of the Payava Tomb. Now only the plinth and hyposorium. The remainder, including the frieze of the upper part shown here, was removed to the British Museum
The upper section of the Xanthos Payava Tomb in the British Museum. The room is normally closed and we thank the Museum for access
Moving to Letoon, which was the religious centre of the Lykian League. The theatre at Letoon with quite a lot of rubble covering the orchestra
Letoon. The back row of the theatre with nicely carved seats.
Letoon. The Vomitorium (exit) from the theatre
Letoon. The temple of Leto partially reconstructed
Letoon. There are lots of spare column drums and other pieces on site which have been partially sorted before possible use in reconstruction
Letoon. New pieces are also being carved to help in the reconstruction